As the private sector around the world adopts ID cards
for various uses, will voluntary demand for such schemes ever
happen in the UK?
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced earlier this year several
changes to the
identity card scheme in the UK. This now means that cards will
no longer be compulsory, with new passport applicants having the
option to request a card. It is worth noting that, should Labour
win the next election, then the scheme is likely to go to a vote
for MPs to make it compulsory again. Such a move is likely to be
dependent upon the success of the voluntary scheme.
The chances of the UK having a compulsory
ID card scheme will depend on whether there is a demand. This
is dependent on the benefits being realised and adopted by the
private sector.
A card with the sole purpose of proving identity to law
enforcement is unlikely to create a rush of new applicants. This
was demonstrated when the National Registration Act in 1952 was
repealed and compulsory ID cards were scrapped.
Many countries around the world have adopted both compulsory and
non-compulsory identity documents for citizens. In many cases
private sector have embraced such cards, where citizens use them as
part of their everyday life. In Greece, for example, it has been
adopted by the financial sector to open new accounts, or to even
perform simple banking transactions. It is also used to receive
parcels and registered mail. With fraud against private individuals
in 2005 estimated at £2.75bn, demanding that identity thieves prove
identity to receive illicit goods as opposed a signature can only
be a good thing.
The retail industry is even using the cards. A
blogger from Singapore commented that his card is "shown to the
occasional waiter or cashier, so they can be sure that my credit
card is not stolen". ID cards are used to verify customers in many
countries, from registering for a mobile phone in South Africa to
renting an apartment in Taiwan. In many locations the ID card is
also used as valid travel documentation. For example, in Croatia
citizens can travel without a passport to countries that have
special agreements with the Croatian government.
Certainly, having an ID card can be beneficial to citizens.
However, by solely focusing on its ability to fight terrorism it is
unlikely to create a demand in its own right. The Conservative
party questioned its effectiveness in this fight by citing the
events in Spain as an example.
However judging by the number of abusive comments to the
Singapore blogger, it seems that getting voluntary demand may be
easier said than done. Perhaps the cards should be used to give
people money off their shopping. After all, store 'loyalty' cards
not only store personal details but also track customer purchases,
and the demand for such cards is huge because they offer money off
at the tills!