Forms of identity (Was RE: Open versus closed PKI systems)

[Owen Blacker]

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> > How many people in the UK have an NI card, compared to a driving
> > licence?  
> 
> My point was that they are issued, not that people keep them close
> to hand.  Certainly for at least the last decade they are posted to
> all individuals on the electoral register as they reach their 16th
> birthday.  

I lost my NI card quite a long time ago (and I received it within the
last decade) and I don't drive.  My passport expires this year.  I
have no credit cards (because my credit record reflects the debt I
accumulated at university a little too well  :o)  and I don't even
have a cheque guarantee card.

Proving my identity for most purposes tends to be problematic, even
to organisations with whom I have a good history -- drawing more cash
than my ATM limit over the counter at my bank has been problematic
before.  I will probably be renewing my passport for this very
reason, despite the fact that I don't have any urgent desires to
leave the country.  And all this in a country where we don't have a
national identity card.

I know I'm not a "normal" example, but the reasons why I have none of
these identification documents is not through any desire not to carry
ID.  The government don't need to introduce a compulsory ID card for
the nation to become somewhere where everyone needs to carry ID.

I don't think there's any reason for the government to insist upon a
new form of ID unless (a) it is more convenient to move all these
different forms of ID into one place or (b) it forms a substantial
source of revenue for the state.

I'm not entirely sure that's the point I was going to make when I
first hit reply, but I don't remember what was and it's as good a
point as any other at this time of day...  :o)


O x
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Owen Blacker
Senior Software Developer / InfoSec Consultant    Wheel: Clerkenwell
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Opinions are mine.  My employer and their clients can get their own!

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