The Identity Cards Bill is not just about the introduction of ID cards for individuals, it will establish a whole system of identity verification with the recording of information about individuals on a government controlled central register with a record being kept of when it is checked by both public and private sector organisations. Recording substantial amounts of information about so many individuals raises substantial data protection and privacy concerns. Information recording should be done on a proportionate and fair basis with the minimum amount of personal information used as is necessary to deliver the objectives of an ID card system.
The government has specified significant areas where a reliable, trustworthy way of proving someone’s identity may be important. Central to data protection and privacy concerns is whether the extent of information collected and held about individuals is limited to that necessary to achieve these important objectives.
By the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
