Government must maintain links with other industries and
suppliers to ensure that ID cards are successfully implemented,
says John Higgins.
In its submissions to the Home Office and the Home
Affairs Select Committee, Intellect has argued for early supplier
involvement in the delivery of a national identity card
scheme.
This project will only succeed if government maintains its open
dialogue with industry and engages suppliers effectively.
The project must be driven forward in line with initiatives such
as the e-government programme and the NHS IT strategy, and conform
to anti-terrorism and privacy legislation.
The industry can meet the technological challenges but the right
technical solutions will only be developed and implemented through
open dialogue.
The proposals must address the perspectives of citizens as
consumers and taxpayers:
- The benefits of the card, which must be tangible and
compelling
- Their trust in government
- The security of personal data
- The openness and visibility of government intentions, to
overcome negative perceptions.
The trial being undertaken by the Passport Service clearly
points to a programme which will facilitate this type of dialogue,
as do the approaches outlined by the Home Office.
It is widely recognised that a universal, easily-recognised
identity document that can be trusted by all, and which would
involve counter-fraud measures, would be of benefit in the fight
against crime.
However, it is also recognised that an ID card could create new
vulnerabilities.
An architecture should be implemented which allows security
schemes to evolve on the card to combat increasing levels of risk.
Such an approach, in turn, relies on the quality of data
available.
The design of a central database and the type of information
stored will depend on the precise characteristics of the scheme. It
must safeguard the use and sharing of personal data and reduce the
scale and risk of the project.
The government should develop a specification and technical
framework for suppliers with open published standards and
interoperability. To deliver a sound, robust system decisions must
be made about:
- The manufacture, issuing, delivery and reissue of lost
cards
- How the database would be protected from terrorist attack
- How, when and why ID would be checked, and how long checks
should take
- How ID cards of missing individuals would be treated
- What would happen to cards when individuals die.
Only through a comprehensive understanding of the industry, its
capacity and its capabilities will the government be in a position
to develop an ID card scheme capable of delivering on its
promises.
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What standards would you like to see in the implementation of
identity cards?
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John Higgins is director general of
suppliers association Intellect