Comments on: Interview: Gordon Brown

By: john h

john h — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:39:10 +0000

This interview perfectly illustrates the muddled thinking behind the scheme by someone who regretfully has not a clue about what he is talking about.
He never says what he wants or expects, but what a hypothetical daily mail reader/supporter might expect from a police state.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:36:23 +0000

gordon brown so ugly, when you walk into the bank they turn off the cameras

By: Claire

Claire — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:03:09 +0000

Do any other countries have a system already in place whereby fingerprints/other biometrics are used to the extent that GB mentions here?
If so, I’m curious to know if there has been any increase in crime involving people getting their hands chopped off by identity frauds?
I know it sounds like a daft question, but think how far some people go to get hold of debit cards/PIN numbers…

On a more sensible note, I found this interview worryingly vague.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:48:52 +0000

This is yet another example of the ridiculous argument from Gordon Brown. Foreign nationals coming here will be required to carry a biometric ID card, but other people may not? So if I’m a foreign national, I just say I’m not, and therefore I don’t need a card. How could that possibly work unless it was 100% compulsory?
Richard, above, I think the biometric access to your home PC is a bit of a molehill – there are already plenty of laptops and computer mice with fingerprint readers in. Fingerprint is only stored locally for verification. Personally I think this is a very good idea – saves worrying about your password getting nicked. Doesn’t mean your biometric information is being passed around anywhere though.

By: Mike Hack

Mike Hack — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:14:40 +0000

Mr.Browns interview in the Observer is muddled and not at all clear. John Mulholland and Nicolas Watts haven’t managed to get one straight answer out of him. To all intents and purposes the interview is worthless.
Brown talks of foreign nationals coming into the country but doesn’t differentuate between between EU nationals commonwealth and other countries citizens. He says there is no compulsion for existing British citizens, but the government also says that our ability to obtain a British Passport depends on us submitting to being fingerprinted and and then being included on the NIR. The labour government proposals inc. the civil penalty charges for refusing to register and notify change of address are little short of bullying.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:32:24 +0000

All I can see here is that Brown is arguing for adoption of solution that’s looking for a problem. What a load of standard waffle. I am particularly perturbed by his apparent suggestion that to access my PC (and my data) or by extension to even play an MP3 file or a DVD, I’m going to have to use my fingerprints or other biometric and be authorised by the likes of Microsoft. If I don’t trust government, I’m certainly not going to trust Microsoft.