Promotion of the identity card and biometric passport plays on fears that we are being overrun by illegal immigrants and Moslem terrorists. This enforces crude stereotypes:
- Blacks and Asians = illegal immigrants
- Moslems = terrorists
- Ethnic minorities and gypsies = benefit cheats
Under the identity card and biometric passport scheme our country will become a two-tier society, split between biometric citizens with full access to society, and biometric-free citizens, denied the right to buy a home, vote, or leave the country.
The centrepiece of the campaign for identity cards plays on peoples fears that we are being overrun by illegal immigrants and bogus asylum seekers who then claim benefits and use our health services. The problem with this is if you asked the man in the street what he thinks a typical illegal immigrant looks like, he’d probably think of someone with darker skin colour, or maybe eastern European features, or a distinctive accent. Hence, if the card and biometric passport are introduced, people in these categories are most likely to be ordered to identify themselves.
Implementation of the scheme will force disadvantaged members of our society to take an identity card first so they can claim social security benefits and health care. It is much more likely that members of the black and Asian community will be expected to produce identity cards to gain access to services than whites (since they fit the ‘criteria’ of potential illegal immigrants/terrorists). The Metropolitan Police have raised the concern that “many of the visible ethnic minorities are over-represented in this socio-economically deprived group. We have severe reservations that the (identity card) scheme could add to tensions at a time when the police service is investing greatly in gaining confidence across all communities." *
Police operations to root out illegal immigrants will be focused on existing ethnic communities rather than communities with largely white populations.
how will the biometric identity card affect asians and muslims? Along with illegal immigration, the government is also promoting the identity card and biometric passport with the argument that it will stop terrorism (although evidence shows this is not true). When referring to ‘terrorists’ the government is predominantly pointing the finger at the Asian and Moslem communities.
2001, police ‘stop and searches’ on Asians increased by Evidence from the Home Office shows that as a direct result of the implementation of the Terrorism Act following Sept 11th 302%, and 230% for black people from 2002 to 2003. It is clear that the burden of identity checks will fall on Asians and Moslems rather than whites. Hence, the use of biometric identity documents in terrorism prevention will be racist. Identity cards are only effective if the police can routinely stop people that look ‘foreign’ and demand they prove their residence status (which will be included on the ID card).
The Home Office Racial Impact Assessment noted that the legislation for biometric passports and ID cards does not account for the needs of Moslem women. Use of the facial biometric (photograph) requires that the whole face is shown and eye scanners will not work through veils. This not only creates a problem for the woman involved, but also for immigration control, shops and banks. They will need to provide private facilities to check the biometrics of Moslem women – if biometrics are not checked then the identity card and biometric passport are rendered useless.
The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) has pointed out that the ID card and biometric passport legislation gives the government wide powers to disclose information on an individual without that persons consent. The CRE commented that the Muslim community would be specifically affected by this.
The identity card and biometric passport will result in increased harassment of Asian and especially Moslem members of our society.
will the biometric identity card
increase anti-semitism?
Incidents
of anti-Semitism in Britain are rare compared to other types of
racial/religious discrimination but the introduction of an identity
card into this country could potentially increase the risk.
The government will not restrict the use of the card and once it becomes compulsory it can be demanded by anyone – for example as ‘proof-of-age’. Many Jewish surnames have distinctive endings (-berg, -mann, -stein) and some are easily identifiable (e.g. Cohen). The introduction of the card raises the risk of ‘soft’ anti-Semitism, for example when presenting the ID card to enter bars or clubs.
As mentioned, cases of anti-Semitism are rare, however as part of the governments 2005 election campaign particular attention was paid to the Jewish backgrounds of Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin, culminating in the ‘Fagin’ and ‘flying pigs’ poster campaigns. The government continues to push the ID card by promoting peoples’ fears of immigrants and asylum-seekers; together with the election campaign this gives a worrying stamp of approval to the general public for intolerance and racism.
Holders of an Israeli ID card might consider a British ID card as a matter of little importance, except that it will not be other Israelis/Jews that are demanding your British ID card. It should also be noted that in response to the initial consultation on ID cards, the request was made for a persons’ nationality to be displayed on the card.
how will the biometric identity
card affect gypsies and travellers?
The
old-fashioned concept that a persons’ ability to prove their
identity should be linked to property is continued in the legislation
for identity cards. This is a particular problem for those that do not
have a fixed address – gypsies, travellers, and the homeless.The government will not restrict the use of the card and once it becomes compulsory it can be demanded by anyone – for example as ‘proof-of-age’. Many Jewish surnames have distinctive endings (-berg, -mann, -stein) and some are easily identifiable (e.g. Cohen). The introduction of the card raises the risk of ‘soft’ anti-Semitism, for example when presenting the ID card to enter bars or clubs.
As mentioned, cases of anti-Semitism are rare, however as part of the governments 2005 election campaign particular attention was paid to the Jewish backgrounds of Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin, culminating in the ‘Fagin’ and ‘flying pigs’ poster campaigns. The government continues to push the ID card by promoting peoples’ fears of immigrants and asylum-seekers; together with the election campaign this gives a worrying stamp of approval to the general public for intolerance and racism.
Holders of an Israeli ID card might consider a British ID card as a matter of little importance, except that it will not be other Israelis/Jews that are demanding your British ID card. It should also be noted that in response to the initial consultation on ID cards, the request was made for a persons’ nationality to be displayed on the card.
For these people, greater emphasis will be placed on proving their identity through biometric scanning (fingers and eyes), and with no permanent address, the audit log will be used to track their movements around the country.
No exemption has been made under the planned legislation for travellers or the homeless; they are expected to inform the government each time they change their 'address', i.e. location. In the case of travellers this presents the problem of staying in 'registerable' locations or local government designated sites. A fine of £1000 will be levied each time travellers fail to register their change of location.
the biometric identity card will create apartheid in britain The introduction of biometric identification will introduce a new kind of discrimination never seen before in the U.K. - biometric discrimination, also known as 'biometric apartheid'.
Britain risks becoming a two-tier society, divided between those who have the card (biometric citizens) and therefore have access to society, and those who cannot carry the card (biometric-free citizens) and are therefore excluded. Biometric-free citizens place great value in their own biometrics since biometrics are a very personal part of the body image. Many feel that biometrics can almost be considered an extension of the body itself, such is their sensitive nature. Once they are stolen, biometrics cannot be replaced, they can be abused by criminals, corrupt governments and security agencies. By safe-guarding their biometrics, biometric-free citizens protect their personal privacy and most importantly their identity from abuse. Since the compulsion to provide biometrics is primarily for surveillance purposes and this will destroy their anonymity and personal privacy. Biometric-free citizens will have a difficult choice: take the card and biometric passport, thereby violating their beliefs or become second class citizens unable to buy a home, drive, or leave the country.
Foreigners will continue to enjoy the freedom to buy property in this country and travel freely without being required to hold any biometric identification. Hence, biometric-free citizens will be below foreigners in the new social order in the U.K.
Ironically, an illegal immigrant who obtains the right to stay in the U.K, and accepts an identity card, will have greater access to society than a biometric-free Briton whose family has lived here for generations.
how will the introduciton of biometric identification change our relationship with the PoliceHistorically the British Police Force is unique. As a country we are proud that our police continue to operate as an unarmed civilian police force and remain non-political. The purpose of the police in uniform that we see everyday is to serve the public. As a civilian police force, it is the responsibility of the police officer to identify themselves to you, and if necessary prove that they hold that position of responsibility by presenting their identity card (warrant card).
The introduction of an identity card into the U.K. will end this relationship between the police and the public. The job of enforcing the governments’ identity card scheme will largely fall on the police. To this effect, they will be enforcing a highly unpopular political agenda which is discriminatory, racist, and violates peoples’ deepest held beliefs.
Identity checks similar to those we see in countries with paramilitary police forces will become common in the U.K. If you have ever been subject to this degrading process then you will be aware of the feeling of hesitation as a policeman or soldier walks off or toys with your passport. Since the passport/identity card gives you the permission to travel/access society, you are very aware that the policeman holding your passport/ID card is the one who holds the power.
Identity cards are a sign of a backward-looking society and authoritarian regimes. There is no place for identity cards and biometric passports in a free and progressive society.