UK reviewing technology for ID card plans
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Nov 5, IRNA
UK Review-ID Cards
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was reported Monday to have ordered a review of the technology behind the proposed controversial plans for a national ID card system.
According to the Guardian, Brown is believed to have expressed concern that the huge new project, the biggest since the delayed introduction of a computerised national healthcare records of patients, does not prove to be another IT fiasco.
His intervention comes as the government has been under pressure from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and human rights groups such as Liberty to scrap the multi-billion pounds project.
It also coincides with attempts to force the publication of the government's own assessments of the controversial scheme, which have never been released.
At present government plans are to extend ID cards to all foreign nationals by next year and slowly make it compulsory for UK citizens, using biometric passport technology, but opponents have criticised that its purpose is muddled.
The Guardian suggested that the review could lead to a delay in the implementation of ID cards, while the Conservatives have pledge to scrap the system if it wins power at the next general election, which is due to be held in 2010 at the latest.
2220/345 ** 1416
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
