http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=7&ObjectID=10127788
The United States wants Britain's proposed identity cards to have the same microchip and technology as the ones used on American documents.
The aim of getting the same microchip is to ensure compatability in screening terrorist suspects. But it will also mean that information contained in the British cards can be accessed across the Atlantic.
http://p2pnet.net/story/4918

This is just the first step in a global id card Coltrane.

One of the many reasons why I dont like leaving the country..Too many security checks and other non-sense...If they do this to Brits just think what they do, or what they have already done to middle-easterners..

Did you know that if you lose your U.S. passport outside the U.S.you cant get back in even if you were born a U.S. citizen. And if you do get back in it would have taken months of talks with the State Department.....What a load...I wish we could go back to the good ol pre-9/11 days...

ID cards not so bad idea.

Centralized computer database very bad idea. Just imagine all those hackers finding out where people live etc, etc.

mark of the beast

sign o tmes

nanny state

Thank you LadyDay you're spot on....

'screening terrorist suspects' is just the excuse to push forward the agenda.

I had a friend from work who came back from Seaworld Florida recently, I asked him if it's true about fingerprint scanning to get into various resort,

They fingerprint scan you AFTER you paid to get in and don't even put a sign to tell you that you're about to be scanned, the really funny thing was this.....it's not linked to a database, so it's essentially a fake scanning process just to get people used to it.

JayJay,

I'm on holiday in Baltimore, US right now and it is true about the fingerprinting and photos at immigration. It was alot worse when I went to NYC last year as it seems they are all the more paranoid up there. It is fair enough as 9/11 would have been enough to get anyone scared about who they let in and what they are here to do. Thing is, at Gatwick before I even got onto the American Airlines flight I has to chat to some guy for about 10 minutes about what I was going to do etc. etc....this is before you get to the ticket desk! Then I had my suitcase searched after I had checked in....

I had left in good time so all this didn't bother me but for goodness sake.

They have started doing it in the UK too. When I was at Heathrow at the end of March (I travel alot with work which makes this more annoying), they now check your passport on exit..something they never did before.

I don't really see why we need a seperate ID card when we can just throw all that info on driving licences or add it to the passport info. Just more unecessary bureaucracy!

the next step will be Whitehall's acquiescence to permitting these same American "national security" goonsquads to torture British subjects at will without cause or recourse. Why bother to kidnap and fly them to Guantanamo when Phoney Tony will let them torture Brits at home?
Remember just prior to Bush's last visit to Britain when his Secret Service goons requested the right to shoot any Brit they wished without just cause or legal recourse afterward? Tony rejected that request -- but for how much longer?
This upcoming Bush visit is said to come complete with a US aircraft carrier parked off the coast while Bush visits. Is this symbolism lost on the British public or is servility to the American emperor becoming some new national fad with them?

blkhideParanoia Rules!!!

Peacemaker wrote:
"ID cards not so bad idea." unfortunately most people think this way!

Until they see all the facts....£93 for the privilege of having the card (another charge for address change, upto £2500 fine if you forget, in fact upto £2500 fine if you don't update any part of your details)

If the home secretary decides to change your details without your consent, guess what! you pay for it to be updated.

It will have:

personal details
bank accounts
doctor/clinic visits(medical records)
credit application
journey by bus/train
every purchase obver £100
library books

will cost way over £500 million over the next 10 years(don't listen to government)

it may even be more.... ID cards to cost £300 per person

It won't:

let's be blunt....it won't do anything the government says it would.