The database is the whole problem with the "ID Card" debate
It's not the card that's the issue for most people, lots of countries have compulsory ID cards that you have to carry. It's the overarching loss of privacy that the scheme entails, let alone the poor planning and vast expense for no discernible benefit.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 12:39, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

Let's say it's done properly*,
I like the idea that if I get hit by a car and am knocked out, an ambulance can quickly see if I'm alergic to anything. Or if I need benfits, most of the form's information will be sorted out. Or if I need a criminal-record-check, it can be completed in weeks instead of months (or however long it takes).

The thing that I dislike is it being used for comercial gain. I admit though, it would be a bugger to update it. For example, if I don't pay a credit-card off and they give me a bad rating, but the mistake is rectifide but it not being on the database.... but I consider that comercial gain.

To be honest, I can argue both sides on this one.


* and to be honest, it probably won't be, and as thus, I class it as a "Good idea, but bad implimentation".
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 12:46, Reply)

Plus the data is already out there.
So linking it all up shouldn't be that big of an issue.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 12:47, Reply)

But it's not a health database
that's nothing to do with it, it's being sold as a security issue. Do you actually trust any government to competently look after your data? The issue is, if this database is considered to be all powerful, then when the mistakes happen, and they will happen, how do you prove they are mistakes?

You can argue good things about national databases, but the inevitable negatives will always outweigh any potential gains as far as I'm concerned.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 12:49, Reply)

I totally agree that as a security issue, it's bullshit.
I can't see how it's supposed to help security, and I dont' agree with the "If you have nothing to hide, why aren't you for it" argument eaither.

Maybe a good idea would be a linking of all the national databases, like the NHS and GPs, benfits and criminal records (etc).

It would be quite simple, I can think of how it'll work in a technical term, linking IDs with NI Numbers, but can't think of how to say it in a non-technical way.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 12:56, Reply)