How the ID card and biometric passport will be introduced?

A brief history of the UK biometric identity card (NIC) and biometric passport

November 2003: the government publishes the results of its first consultation in “Identity Cards – The Next Steps”. This outlined the intention to introduce a voluntary identity card and a 6 month trial of biometric passports at the UK Passport Agency. The government received 10,000 responses, 67% were against the proposals, 25% in favour, and 8% were neutral.*

April 2004: the government publishes “Legislation on Identity Cards – A Consultation”. This repeated that the identity card would be voluntary until the majority of the population (~80%} held the card; the public would never be compelled to carry the card and could never be ordered to produce it. The government once again requested the public provide responses**

October 2004: the government publishes the results of the second consultation exercise. This spoke of a compulsory identity card for everyone living in the U.K. Results showed that 48% of the public were against identity cards and only 31% in favour. ***

December 2004: David Blunkett resigns as Home Secretary after his affair with Kimberley Quinn is disclosed.

April 2005: Government calls General Election. Labour Party runs on a xenophobic, anti-immigrant ticket. During the election the party speaks of voluntary biometric identification.

November 2005: David Blunkett resigns from Department of Work and Pensions after he breaches ministerial code of conduct.

March 2006: Opposition in House of Lords to Identity Card Bill collapses after Conservative peers vote in favour of compulsory biometric identification after 2010 (potentially making it a future election issue).

April 2006: Government announces creation of Identity and Passport Agency and begins creating interrogation centres for identity screening for biometric passport applicants.

April 2006: details disclosed showing Home Secretary Charles Clarke had allowed 1023 foreign criminals, including murderers, rapists and child sex offenders, to remain in UK instead of deporting them. "Peerages for Cash" scandal disclosed. Extra-marital affair of John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, disclosed in media.

May 2006: Labour Party loses 999 seats at local elections. Charles Clarke replaced by John Reid.

May 2006: end of biometric-free passport. Introduction of biometric passport with RFID and compulsory registration on NIR.

phasing in the identity card and biometric passport

To prevent large scale opposition to biometric identification, the government planned to phase in the identity card via the biometric passport. This was based on the premise that with around 80% of the population holding a passport, individuals would have to take the 'voluntary' ID card when they renewed their passport.

Individuals refusing the card would still have to provide biometrics and be registered on the Identity Register (NIR). This provides all the information required for the identity card (NIC) and biometric surveillance. The card can be issued automatically after compulsion in 2010 (the cost of the card having been included with the passport application).

The biometric passport will comply with the EU EuroPassport format containing finger prints (and iris scans). Under EU regulations for the EuroPassport (euro-id) details from the NIR will be transferred to the European wide ID biometric database.

but i thought biometric identification was voluntary The government always stated that the ID card would be voluntary, no organisation could demand production of the identity card during the 'voluntary' period. This was never the intention of the government, inclusion on the NIR when applying for a biometric passport, merging of the passport and childrens databases with the NIR, and compulsory charging from May 2006 meant that most UK residents and expatriates will be on the system regardless of their opposition and beliefs.

In 2010, the House of Commons will vote on compulsion, however this will not prevent people being forced to register on the NIR through passport applications.

function creep and piggy-backing Function creep or piggy-backing refers to the introduction of biometric identification using associated technology and using the card/passport for one purpose and then gradually expanding its use to other areas of life. So for example, firstly just for use at the bank, but eventually for renting videos, using a sports club etc.

This technique is used for two reasons:

to gradually pressure the public into accepting biometric surveillance and identification by slowly removing choice and the ability to live without it
to stamp-out opposition on an issue-by-issue basis and prevent large scale revolt

Biometric identification and surveillance schemes set-up by private companies will be encouraged, some examples of this include community CCTV surveillance projects (May 2006), biometric 'entry requirements' to gain access to nightclubs (May 2006), introduction of biometric technology into schools for children to obtain school meals (2004). Information from these databases can be transferred to the NIR under the Identity Card Bill.

People refusing to submit to biometric identification will be gradually denied access to services::

denied the right to buy property
denied access to banking
denied the right to travel
denied car ownership (by linking biometric identification to the driving licence)
denied the ability to rent a home
denied the ability to stay in accomodation, e.g. hotels
denied welfare and benefits
denied the right to vote

This will result in biometric apartheid where sections of the community will be second class citizens (or 'non-persons').

The Information Commissioner warned “non-production of the ID card would arouse unjustified suspicion of the individual”, i.e. if you don’t produce a card you must be an illegal immigrant or criminal and therefore will be denied services and excluded from performing simple everyday activities.

Function creep is particularly effective on vulnerable groups, such as young adults, senior citizens, and especially children who can be softened-up by introducing the technology into schools (e.g. to obtain school dinners).

identity screening Research by Privacy International (April 2004) outlined the basics of the Identity Screening process, with the introduction of the compulsory biometric passport we now have a better idea of the process::

interorogation centres are set up across the country from 2006 (now in progress)
UK Nationals, Expatriates, and Visa holders will be required to apply for the identity card. (You will be subject to the same process when applying for the compulsory biometric passport from May 2006).
You will be interviewed face-to-face and a “biographical footprint” compiled to trace your financial transactions and activity. You will need to provide documents to prove who you are. If you cannot provide satisfactory documentation then it could indicate you are an illegal immigrant.
you will be required to give finger prints and iris scans. This will be stored on the NIR and information transferred to the EU database (SIS II)
The government now have your biometrics and these correspond to your identification number hence you are ‘padlocked’ to the passport (and ID card when it is issued).

The register will be routinely scanned to determine that your biometrics do not match any other person on the system. If they do, then you will be suspected of attempting to defraud the system (i.e. you are a criminal, terrorist, or illegal immigrant). See note on Biometrics failure.

If the House of Commons votes for compulsion in 2010 those refusing biometric identification will be ordered to attend an identity screening.

Forcing the British to accept biometric identification By introducing the biometric passport without giving the alternative choice of a cheaper biometric-free passport, the aim is to coerce the British, one-by-one, to accept biometric technology or deny us the right to travel outside the UK.

British expatriates (living overseas) will not be allowed to re-enter the U.K. without a biometric passport.
If you fail to attend your identity screening you will be fined £2500. If you continue to refuse to submit to screening, the fine will be repeated.
you will not be allowed to buy property, take a mortgage, or have a bank account.
if used for ‘e-democracy’ or connected to the electoral register, you will lose your right to vote.
If you refuse to pay the fines the government will send in the bailiffs who will take away your property and sell it to get the money.

ID card legislation defines non-payment as a ‘civil’ offence (instead of a criminal offence), the government will prefer this method rather than send civil rights protesters to prison. Considering the large percentage of the population that oppose ID cards, it is likely that courts will be over-stretched with the task of trying civil rights protesters. The practical solution to this is to bypass the judicial system by making non-registration and 'on-the-spot' offence where the civil rights protester can be arrested and taken to the nearest police station for forced scanning under the premise of standard arrest procedure.

the biometric passport Biometric passports make use of biometric patterns to identify the passport holder. These patterns are taken from the face, finger (actually hand prints), and eyes. The facial and finger biometric patterns are taken at the identity screening. The passport microchip (RFID) contains a wireless ariel so the information stored on the passport can be read at distance without the owner being aware.†††

The digital photograph and storage of the facial pattern on a microchip are features recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The ICAO does not require fingerprints or eye-scans. †† It does not require that this information is stored on a central database.

The United States has rejected RFID technology due to reader incompatibility and weak scurity. The contactless chip concept has also been criticised due to lack of security and risks to the holder.

The microchip is designed to allow the addition of fingerprints and eye-scans at a later date (Some countries in the EU are pushing for them to be compulsory on all EU passports). If you have one, it is easily identifiable at the back of your passport, most noticeable becasue of the large wire coil.

Few people object to the storage of their face pattern on a chip provided it was only used to confirm that the photo was genuine. However, the biometric passport and its connection to the NIR as proposed by the government extends beyond this.

A key aim of the government is to obtain the facial biometric for biometric surveillance of the British public. Biometric CCTV cameras and number plate recognition cameras are already being introduced and enable extensive tracking of a persons movements .

When you renew your passport you will receive a passport that contains the basic components of an EU wide Identity Card (e-passport).

If you are concerned by the implications of the biometric passport, you should contact your M.P.