WHAT WE STAND FOR

NO2ID is a campaigning organisation. We are a single-issue group focussed on the threat to liberty and privacy posed by the rapid growth of the database state, of which "ID cards" are the most visible part. We are entirely independent. We do not endorse any party, nor campaign on any other topic.

We aim to publicise the case against state identity management among the general public, in the media, and at every level in government. NO2ID's members are from all sorts of backgrounds and hold all sorts of opinions on other questions. They almost certainly include people much like you. Please support us.

NO2ID comment:

PROPAGANDA BY DEED

The Home Office is in a whirl of activity on the database state. But it isn't actually doing anything. If you look carefully you can see that it is scrambling to secure its position, covered by a lot of noise about "change".

On ID cards - the announcement of 'trials' in Manchester is less than it seems. There is not yet a scheme nor even a specification. Retail chains who might take fingerprints are "in talks" with government, but it would be commercial madness for them to buy equipment for an undersigned scheme that might be cancelled in a year. Those who pre-register for the scheme are only serving to provide a number that some future Home Office minister can claim shows "the public want ID cards". The razzamatazz around their 'opportunity' is neatly timed to distract attention from the latest cost reports. No real change. But no change of direction either.

On the collection of communications data - though headlines have been grabbed by "cancelling" a super-database containing details of all telephone calls, texts, emails and web-browsing, the collection and searching of the information is still intended. And the information will still be accessible to dozens of organisations without a warrant. No change.

On the DNA database in England and Wales, you will have read stories such as "Police to destroy DNA profiles of 800,000 innocent" (Guardian). Only they won't. Not immediately. Let alone comply with the spirit of the law, or match the actual law in Scotland. The Home Office is merely consulting on a proposal that, at some indefinite point in the future it might (a) massively add to the database by sampling all convicts however long ago their convictions, and (b) remove the DNA profiles of those who are not convicted between 6 and 12 years after they are arrested – the period depending on what they are innocent of. On that basis the database will continue to grow very fast for years to come. No change.

Rest assured NO2ID will continue to fight the database state. No change.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 'ID CARDS'

There's a lot of confusion about the government's proposed national identity scheme, and it doesn't help that the Home Office often gives misleading information.

Our summary of the scheme is here.

Answers to selected Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are here.

The 'database state' is what we call the tendency to try to use computers to manage society by watching people. There are many interlocking government plans that do this. Together they mean officials poking into your private life more than ever before.

The list of database state initiatives on which NO2ID is campaigning, along with a wide range of other organisations is here.

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