IT Work - Investigating the pros and cons of ID cards

Task -

Using the internet research exactly what is being proposed by the UK Government and what the objections are.

• Write a list of all the ICT that is involved in the UK's proposed card scheme.
• State what the purpose of the ID card is meant to be.
• Evaluate whether it will meet this purpose.
• Enumerate the advantages of such a system and the drawbacks.
• Make your personal recommendation as to whether we should have ID cards.

IT: Security microchips inside the card that can be read to reveal the card holders digital picture, name, date of birth, nationality and fingure prints.

Purpose: So people can be easily identified if they are taken into a prison or have commited a crime. It can also be used to prove your identity if you are trying to buy something that is illegal to sell to people under a certain age. It will make it easier for people to just say "look I have this card" giving it to them to have a look at and then giving it back saying that they can buy whatever it is because they are within the age limit.

Will it meet its purpose? It will meet its purpose to prove identity and help speed up investigations if the governement has everyones fingure prints, however it will feel as if they are keeping a too close eye on us and we will feel as if we are being controlled until it has been around for about 10 years or so.

Advantages:

• Proves your identity.
• Can help in criminal investigations.
• You cannot duplicate cards as easily.
• You can only get them from the governement.
• It will help to improve national security.
• It will help people who have a right to refuse service to underaged people do so.

Disadvantages:

• It might feel to some people that the governement are keeping a closer eye on people.
• It might feel as if you are being controlled.
• You might be able to get away without having one.
• You could duplicate it and it will be harder to tell if it is a genuine or not.
• You will have to put some kind of encryption onto the chip so people cannot change it easily.
• You will have to pay more to get a card.
• The government will be able to access your fingure prints easier.

Recommendation: I think that it should be used because it will help people solve crimes quicker and keep track of all the foreign nationals who want to come into the country. This will help to identify terrortists and keep the country a little bit safer.