Identity, Privacy and Trust

April 2009

• Opt-Out or Opt-In

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 30 Apr 2009

The National Programme for IT is steaming ahead within the NHS (if you believe the press releases), but remains controversial as ever. Pilots in two different areas demonstrate the incredible ...

• An End to Silly Names?

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 29 Apr 2009

The Register notes that the Identity and Passport Service refused to issue a passport to a woman who had changed her name to "Ms Pudsey Bear" (in aid of the BBC's Children in Need charity), despite ...

• More on Phorm

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 28 Apr 2009

"Mark Thompson" has commented on the previous short item on 'Phiting Dirty,' and I think his comment merits a blog item in its own right. I've reproduced his text below: This new 'smear' website ...

• Phiting Dirty

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 28 Apr 2009

Deep Packet Inspection outfit Phorm is busy covering itself with glory today. This morning we had the Freedom of Information revelation that contrary to previous statements, the Home Office not ...

• When is 'Fake ID' not Fake ID?

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 21 Apr 2009

Some weeks ago I was interviewed by the BBC, who asked what I thought the greatest security threat to the National Identity Scheme (NIS) would be. The answer was easy: the biggest threat to ID ...

• The Bespoke Internet

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 20 Apr 2009

The controversial deep-packet inspection service offered by Phorm has been making the news again. But despite some of the hostile coverage that Phorm has received, there are possible benefits as ...

• Set Your Videos: The Westminster Gravy Train

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 15 Apr 2009

If you haven't already done so, set your video, Sky+ or PVR to record Sunday's Dispatches on Channel 4. Heather Brooke, the UK's leading Freedom of Information expert, investigator and journalist, ...

• The Dangers of DNA Databases

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 15 Apr 2009

Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the scientist behind the development of DNA testing methods used in modern policing, has attacked the government DNA database. Speaking to the BBC, he said: "My concern ...

• First ID Cards Contracts Awarded

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 07 Apr 2009

The Identity and Passport Service has announced the award of the first two contracts under the National Identity Scheme. CSC has been awarded the £385m contract for Application and Enrolment, whist ...

• And the Academy Award goes to... Osama Bin Laden

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 06 Apr 2009

The Telegraph is reporting that in trials of facial recognition scanners at Manchester Airport, the machines had such difficulty recognising people against the facial image in their passport, that ...

• The Value of Rubbish

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 06 Apr 2009

I had a big clear-out of my attic over the weekend, and made in-roads into 15 years' worth of junk that had taken over the top of the house. Nothing exciting there (except for a mouse-filled Xmas ...

• Streetview - the Public Fight Back

  Toby Stevens - Enterprise Privacy Group 03 Apr 2009

Google has launched its Street View service in the UK to inevitable howls of protest about the privacy implications. Is it really such a big deal? And might customisation offer a compromise for all ...