NO2ID News No. 104

14 August 2008

++ NO2ID AT THE PARTY CONFERENCES ++

Once again NO2ID will be holding fringe meetings at the party conferences taking place this year, which will take place in September/October. We will be holding a TUC fringe meeting in Brighton on Monday 8th September at the Brighthelm Centre, chaired by our Union Liaison Christina Zaba. We have a presence at the Green conference and our General Secretary, Guy Herbert, will be speaking at fringe meetings at the Liberal Democrat and UKIP conferences, both in Bournemouth. At the Conservative conference in Birmingham we have a stall (highly prized, now the Conservatives are widely seen as winners by lobbyists) on the Home Affairs day, and we will be at the Labour conference in Manchester.

Volunteers for all these events are needed. If you are available to help at one or other English Party conference please contact office@no2id.net or the relevant NO2ID local group. If you can help at Scottish Party conferences please contact NO2ID Scotland (scotland@no2id.net), and we would be delighted to hear from people involved in Welsh or Irish politics (particularly the latter where our contacts need developing) - email (office@no2id.net).

Conference details:

Green: 5th - 8th September, School of Oriental and African Studies, London
UKIP: 5th - 6th September, Bournemouth International Centre
TUC Congress: 8th - 11th September, Brighton Centre
Plaid Cymru: 11th - 13th September, Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
Liberal Democrats: 13th - 17th September, Bournemouth International Centre
SNP: 16th - 19th September, Perth Concert Hall
Labour: 20th - 24th September, Manchester Central (formerly GMEX)
Conservatives: 28th September - 1st October, Birmingham International Convention Centre

What's next?

+ 14th August - NO2ID London Social +
We will be having another NO2ID social on Thursday 14th August 2008 from 6.30pm.
It will be at The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, WC1H 1BH (please note, it's not at The Crown but The *Old* Crown). Meet the organisers, ask questions, get involved, have a pint. Everyone is welcome whether a member, supporter, sympathiser or even Home Office minister.
Enquires to Harry Metcalf: london@no2id.net

+ Consultation on Data Retention Directive +
The government has launched a consultation on the Electronic Communications Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations. Responses should be sent by 31st October by e-mail to commsdata@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Andrew Knight, Home Office, 5th Floor, Peel Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
See http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2008-transposition?view=Binary

+ 8th September ? NO2ID at TUC Congress +
Monday, 8th September at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1YD. NO2ID will be holding a fringe meeting to discuss the imminent impact of the ID scheme and what can be done about it. Chair: Christina Zaba, NO2ID Union Liaison. Speakers: TBC. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

We now have local groups in 44 of the 69 proposed locations for interrogation centres - of which just 3 have yet to open. Parliamentary answers indicate that the most active centres are: Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Peterborough and Sheffield.

For information on your nearest interrogation centre, see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php. If you can help set up a local group in one of the remaining locations, or anywhere else in the UK, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net

+ Bradford +

+ 10th September - Bradford NO2ID Meeting (2nd Wednesday of the month) +
Every second Wednesday of the month 6:30pm at Bradford Resource Centre, 17-21 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5DT.

+ Brighton +

+ 16th August - Brighton NO2ID at The Brunswick Festival +
Saturday, 16th August 11am to 6pm Brighton NO2ID are having a stall at The Brunswick Festival, Brunswick Square, Hove. The festival includes live bands, a variety of stalls, including food stalls and a beer tent and is free!

+ Cambridge +

+ 23rd August - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 23rd August at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.

+ 3rd - September NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month) +
Wednesday, 3rd September 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw). For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

+ Dorking +

Meetings every first Tuesday at the Lincoln Arms by Dorking mainline station, 7.30pm all welcome. Next events ? street stalls in Guildford and Dorking.

+ 25th September - ?Are your privacy and freedom under threat?? Debate +
Thursday, 25th September 8.00pm at The Christian Centre, St Martin?s Church, Dorking, with Sir Paul Beresford MP, Edgar Whitely (LSE) and surprise guest.

+ Dover +

+ 30th August - NO2ID Dover Street Stall +
Saturday, 30th August, from approx. 10am for at least a couple of hours (weather permitting) at the top of Biggin Street precinct (by Prince Albert pub)/in front of war memorial and Town Council office, near Town Hall. As much help from supporters as possible welcome.

+ 30th August - NO2ID Gig Night (Live Music and NO2ID information) +
Saturday, 30th August at The Whole Earth Caf?, The Old High Street, Folkestone. The caf? will be open to the public with food and drink on sale. Help from supporters welcome. The lead act band will be ?The Mercurials?.

+ Edinburgh +

Edinburgh Festival play about ID cards
Kali Theatre will be performing 'Another Paradise' at Venue 112 (clubWest, Nicolson Street) until 25th August. The play is set in Leamington Spa "at a time when Identity Cards are compulsory and people are validated only by their digital ID in the National Identity Database". Described as "a witty and satirical look at a highly controversial government policy that will soon have a deep and far reaching effect on our everyday lives". Booking info at: (http://www.edfringe.com/shows/detail.php? action=shows&id=716). According to Edinburgh NO2ID coordinator, John Welford: "This is a brilliant show - well informed about ID card issues, lively acted and well produced. Definitely not to be missed!"

Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

+ Epsom +

+ 20th August - Epsom NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 20th August at the Assembly Rooms (Weatherspoons) High Street, Epsom at 7.30pm. The second meeting of Epsom, all welcome, bring a friend. In early September we will hold an Epsom street stall to raise awareness and get new members.

+ Glasgow +

Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow street stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net

+ Leicester +

+ 30th August - Leicester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 30th August from 1pm by the Clock Tower at Gallow Tree Gate. Anyone able to help out should email Jon or Avtar on (leicster@no2id.net). If you're not able to attend but are interested in the work of Leicester NO2ID, please join the mailing list at: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.leicester

+ Leeds +

+ 16th August - Leeds NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 16th August on Briggate from 1-3pm. If you fancy comming along to lend a hand contact leeds@no2id.net

+ 21st August - Leeds NO2ID Planning Meeting +
Thursday, 21st August from 7-9pm at the Peanut Social Centre on University of Leeds Campus. Contact leeds@no2id.net for further details

+ Maidstone +

+ 21st August - Maidstone NO2ID Inaugural Meeting +
Thursday, 21st August 6.30pm at Muggleton Inn, 8-9 High Street, Maidstone, ME14 1HJ. All welcome. Please bring a friend. Further details: Adrienne Margolis on (maidstone@no2id.net). If you're unable to attend but are interested in the activity of the group please join the Maidstone mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.maidstone

+ Manchester +

+ 13th September - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 13th September 2pm-4pm in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register.

+ Mold +

+ 8th September - 1st NO2ID Mold Meeting (1st Monday of every month after that)+
Monday, 8th September at Y Delyn Wine Bar, King Street, Mold, CH7 1LA. Contact Sophie McKeand on mold@no2id.net or join the mailing list at: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.mold

+ Southampton +

+ 16th August - Southampton NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday 16th August - street stall outside Waitrose, Portswood Road, Southampton, from about 1.30am-2.30pm. If you would like to help out on the stall, please contact Michael, runninginthedark@gmail.com.

+ 3rd September - Southampton NO2ID Meeting (1st Wednesday of the month) +
Wednesday 3rd September 8pm at the Dolphin pub, Osborne Road South, Southampton (next to St Denys train station). Southampton NO2ID's monthly meeting. All are welcome.

+ Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells+

Stalls continue apace in both Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells. If you are interested in being involved then email and let us know - it's good fun and you get to know the arguments extremely well!

+ 16th October - Database State debate +
Thursday, 16th October at The Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells, where students of Skinners and also of neighbouring school TWGGS will debate and call witnesses. Meg Hillier's secretaries are still unsure after much correspondence as to whether she will be able to make it or not. Will she, won't she, will she, won't she defend government policy in an open public debate given that her diary is still not fixed for that evening? We are most grateful to Daniel Zeichner and Phil Booth for kindly agreeing to argue their cases. The level of debate in these schools excels - it should be fun - put it in your diary!

+ Watford +

+ 2nd September - Watford NO2ID 1st Meeting +
Tuesday, 2nd September 7.15pm at the Estcourt Tavern pub, Estcourt Rd, WD1 2PY (parallel to Clarendon Rd, just up from Watford Junction rail station). Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. Please bring a friend. For further details feel free to contact Emma Simmons on (watford@no2id.net). If you're unable to attend, but are interested in the activity of the group, please join the local mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.watford

What just happened?

+ E-Passports Cracked Again +

Back in 2006 NO2ID worked with security expert Adam Laurie to demonstrate insecurities in the new ?ePassport? that has been issued by the UK Identity and Passport Service since then. The passport contains a chip which holds information about the passport holder. Laurie was able to read data from an e-passport without even taking it out of the envelope it was delivered in. Now a Dutch hacker, Jeroen van Beek, has shown that it is possible to create a fake chip, which could then be put it in a legitimate passport. Last month 3,000 blank e-passports were stolen from the back of a van. The e-passport is a worldwide standard created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after pressure from the United States in 2001. Since their introduction the chipped passports have been the subject of much controversy. The new passports were introduced in the UK under royal prerogative (without the need of consultation, debate or legislation). If the government want the UK ID card to act as a "passport lite" then they will put the same chip into the cards. The Identity and Passport service have also talked about storing fingerprints on the chip - claiming that it is necessary to comply with Europe and/or International Standards. As we have reported previously fingerprints are not part of any standard with which the government must comply.

+ Government responds to 'A Surveillance Society?' report +

The government has released its response to the Home Affairs Committee's 'A surveillance society?' inquiry which produced its report in June (see NO2ID Newsletter 100). On their widespread data-sharing agenda the government says that there are safeguards in the Data Protection Act and: "As this has already been debated in Parliament, we do not feel that a Parliamentary debate is required every time these principles are applied to a new Government proposal". On Biometrics linked to the National Identity Register the response says: "Biometric information will be encrypted from the moment it is enrolled right through to the Register" - this is an interesting claim in light of the cracking of the e-passport. Meanwhile the response tries to allay fears about ContactPoint, the database that will hold details of every child in England, by saying that it will "be like a computer based phone book".
Read the response at: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm74/7449/7449.pdf

+ New novel looks as the Database State +

Bestselling author Jeffery Deaver has written a new novel that takes a look at the ever growing Database State. In 'The Broken Window' Deaver uses the threat of government databases as the main basis for the book. Deaver even ends the novel with some notes to assist readers in making contact with anti-ID organisations, and recommends 'No Place to Hide', by Robert O'Harrow Jr (See www.noplacetohide.net). Deaver is best known for his Lincoln Rhyme novels (one of which was turned into the film 'The Bone Collector' starring Denzel Washington). Hopefully the book will help to make a larger audience aware of the some of the issues we are campaigning against.

"ID" in the news

+ Government publishes new, wider Data Retention Regulations - Out-Law 14/8/08 +
The Government has published a draft law that mandates the retention of data by internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies. The proposed Regulations will replace an earlier law that applied to non-internet data only.
http://www.out-law.com/page-9350

+ Spy fear over e-mail check planA computer keyboard - BBC News Online 13/8/08 +
Plans to give local councils and other public bodies the power to monitor e-mail and internet traffic have been branded a "snoopers' charter".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7557963.stm

+ Health bodies could access communication logs - e-Health Insider 13/8/08 +
Public bodies, including health authorities, could be able to access information about all personal calls and internet use under proposals from the Home Office.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/4055/health_bodies_could_access_communication_logs

+ Irish bus pass is ?identity card by stealth? - The Times 10/8/08 +
The new travel pass could evolve to let the state watch our every move. In Ireland, the ?soft? introduction of the public services card has caused barely a stir.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article4493788.ece

+ Scots schoolchildren to be fingerprinted in controversial ID scheme - Glasgow Sunday Mail 10/8/08 +
More than 8000 pupils are to have their fingerprints taken so they can be tracked by teachers. Controversial biometric fingerprinting will be introduced to eight secondary schools in the biggest experiment of its type in Scotland. But parents yesterday attacked the scheme, saying there are few controls over who can access the fingerprint database.
http://tinyurl.com/6qwcqx

+ E-Passports Signed, Sealed, Delivered -- But Not Like You May Think - Wired 8/8/08 +
Two years ago security researcher Lukas Grunwald showed how the chips in new electronic passports could easily be cloned. Grunwald's attack, however, was limited in that he hadn't found a way to alter data on the tag in a manner that could not be detected. Data on passport chips is hashed and digitally signed by the issuing country. Changing data on the passport chip would change the hash, indicating that the chip had been manipulated and thus invalidating it.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/e-passports-cra.html

+ Passports: This isn?t supposed to happen: how a baby became bin Laden - The Times 6/8/08 +
Jeroen van Beek takes the passport of a 16-month-old British boy and puts it on to a £40 smartcard reader the size of an iPod. He punches a code into his computer and, within seconds, the information contained in the passport?s microchip appears on screen.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4467098.ece

+ Big problems hit Royal Free's Cerner care records roll-out - ComputerWeekly 5/8/08 +
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, whose staff treat 500,000 patients a year from around the world, has run into "significant" problems including system crashes, delays booking patient appointments and data missing in records.
http://tinyurl.com/5ryp39

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )

Publication details: © NO2ID 2013 - This document may be freely redistributed in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.
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