A national identity scheme is more likely to succeed if
consumers can use it confidently and easily than if it is driven by
governmental goals, said the government'sindependent reviewer of public and private identity
assurance schemes,James Crosby.
The main aim of the scheme should be to let citizens assert who
they are easily and confidently, he said.
This is in sharp contrast to earlier
government reasons for introducing ID cards. These included
national security, crime-fighting, stopping illegal immigration and
saving costs through data sharing and stopping benefit fraud.
In a
review originally due last Easter, Crosby said government goals
are more likely to be achieved if consumers take up and use an ID
system on a wide scale.
"Governments can impose universal take-up, but only consumers
will bring about the breadth of usage that is so critical to the
effectiveness of any national ID infrastructure," Crosby said. "All
elements of the scheme should be designed with the customers'
interests at the core."
In contrast to present government thinking, Crosby said
consumers should "own" the data. Except for national security, it
should not be possible for any data - including stored biometric
data - to be shared with anyone without the consumer's informed
consent. "Verification of identity should be performed without the
release of data," he said.
Crosby said the government's ID card scheme was "The best
opportunity to establish the foundation of a consumer-driven
'universal' identity assurance system that would bring economic and
social advantage to the UK."
But the scheme should be launched on the basis of key
principles he laid out:
• The purpose should be restricted to enabling citizens to
assert their identity with ease and confidence.
• The amount of data stored should be minimised.
• Citizens should "own" their entry on any register.
• Enrolment should be simple, convenient and cheap for citizens,
and focus on high-risk individuals.
• Cards and compromised identities should be easy, cheap and
quick to replace and repair.
• Enrolment and ID cards should be provided free.
• The market should be allowed to develop ways to deliver and
use the scheme.
The present
ID Card Act allows the government to collect, store and share
up to 49 items of information, including fingerprint, facial image
and iris scan data.
There has also been no indication of how someone might "repair"
an identity if it is compromised, one of Crosby's key
recommendations.
The Identity & Passport Service is
tendering for up to five companies to act as main contractors
for the National Identity Scheme. This includes a central register
and smart ID card that will carry at least the same information as
a biometric passport. The expected cost of the scheme is £5.5bn
over 10 years. The first contracts, for the biometric database and
enrolment facilities, are expected to be awarded in May. However,
it has the option to refuse all bids.