[no2id-supporters] NO2ID Supporters Newsletter No.1

Tue Jul 27 08:29:56 BST 2004

NO2ID NEWSLETTER -  Supporter's Newsletter  No.1  - 26th July 2004
--------------------------------------------------------

This is the first of a planned series of regular email newsletters to keep
you informed about the campaign against the Home Office's plans to
fingerprint and track the entire population of Britain for its National
Identity Register.  As soon as practicable the NO2ID Newsletter will also
be produced in printed form to let us reach people without
email.  Meanwhile, if you want to forward this email to friends or print
and distribute hard copies, then we have no objections.

You've been sent this (if you are a first hand recipient) because we
believe you registered as a supporter of the campaign.  If not, or if you
just don't want the newsletter, let us know and please accept our
apologies.  We don't want to spam anyone.

(Equally, if you were a supporter in the past, but have now decided that
you do want yourself and your family to be tagged like cattle at huge and
unnecessary expense, please let us know.)

--------------------------------

THANK YOU - A message from Mark Littlewood, National Coordinator

It has been a slow start, I know, but the NO2ID organisation is now up and
running, and I believe we have a fighting chance of stopping Britain
becoming the world's first "database state".  We wouldn't have got this far
without the support of numerous volunteers and supporters.  Unlike our
opponents, nobody is making a living doing this.  Some supporters who are
politicians, civil servants, or work for big IT contractors, would have an
easier life if they accepted Mr Blunkett's glib assurances and took
advantage of the public money gravy train being hauled by such a vast
project.   Everyone involved so far in the smallest way or the largest is
giving their time freely for personal liberty and the public good.  So
before asking you for yet more help, it is worth pausing to say thank-you
to everyone who has supported the campaign so far.

THANK YOU
-------------------------------

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
-------------------

The Home Office's latest consultation exercise, that on its Draft Bill
<http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/consults/current/index.html> has just
closed.  It will take a while to "consider" the result, but the conclusion
is predictable:  Responses will be said to have been broadly in favour of
the proposals.  Some valuable technical points will have been made that
will be "taken into account" in legislative proposals.

**

We believe that the whole consultation process has been a sham.  So,
apparently, does David Blunkett.  The Scotsman newspaper reported--before
the period for submissions to the consultation closed:

"Mr Blunkett's officials also confirmed that, as Liberty and other
campaigners had warned, the planned national identity-card system would
form the foundation of a central data collecting and monitoring system."
"Once the database for the biometric data stored on the cards is
established, it will be linked to the likes of the Police National
Computer, Interpol and the security services' "warnings index" of those
believed to be a threat to national
security."  <http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=826372004>

As well as jumping the gun, this substantially extends the scope of what
has been proposed.  It has never before been admitted that the so-called
id-database is to be linked to others.  It is rather interesting that
access to the information on the register might be available to foreign
governments through Interpol, and that people may be flagged as "believed
to be a threat to national security" by the security services.

Is the public process is on one page, and the secret process on another?

**

Be that as it may, we believe it is important to show opposition in detail
as well as in principle.  NO2ID presented a lengthy response to the
consultation, which will soon be available for download on the website:
<http://www.no2id.net/>

On the plus side, NO2ID is formally established, has a bank account, and
the backing of a lot of committed people.  Starting from scratch only a few
months ago, we are catching up the Home Office's 20-year start.  We are
supported by respected organisations such as Liberty, Charter 88 and
Privacy International, and several political parties (though the
Conservatives, as a party, are sitting on the fence)--see the website for
details.

**

A public meeting "Mistaken Identity" was held at the LSE on 19th May,
organised by Privacy International and supported by several other
organisations.  It was judged a great success by those who attended.  There
was some positive press coverage.  It certainly wasn't intended as a rally,
but any supporters of the database state failed to turn up.  The Home
Office in particular refused all inducement to take part, and no official
spokesman for the Labour Party was available.  (Though as individuals
Labour MPs and Peers made their presence felt--for the anti-government side.)

David Davis, Shadow Home Secretary, in a thoughtful speech, said he was
undecided but would be in favour of ID-cards if they would stop
terrorism.  (Since it can be shown they won't, it looks like Mr Davis may
well be persuadable to our part of the argument.)  There were many
impressive contributions among them a deeply considered speech in
opposition to the system from the Law Society.

A full list of speakers, none of whom one could call a zealous advocate, is
available here:
<http://www.privacyinternational.org/conference/missingid/>  Mr Blunkett
should not be able to get away with characterising his opponents as--in
that revealing turn of phrase--"the usual suspects".  This can be an
establishment campaign.  We are defending traditional rights and freedoms.

**

You are probably aware of the poll recently conducted by YouGov for Privacy
International.  (Detailed analysis from:
<http://www.privacyinternational.org/
issues/idcard/uk/idpollanalysis.pdf>).  Government research has confined
itself to asking people vaguely if they think ID CARDS are a Good Thing,
allowing them to be triumphant about getting a majority 'yes'.  The PI Poll
shows something much more interesting.

The more people know about the project, and the National Identity Register,
the less they like it.  And opposition is substantial.  We are not alone.

If you scale up the number of people who say they'd rather go to jail than
carry a compulsory ID card from the poll sample, then there are
approximately 3 MILLION people for the Home Office to fine and jail.  Maybe
this is why the plan is for the scheme to be introduced gradually at
first--and by stealth.

WHAT'S NEXT?
------------

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Home Affairs reports on Identity
Cards at the end of this month.  Like all committees it has a government
majority, but we know that there are a significant number of sceptics of
all parties on the Committee.  It should make interesting reading.

The Queen's Speech is in November.  The last one announced the Draft Bill,
and we expect an actual ID Bill announced in it this time round.  However,
it is possible that it will be timetable for the autumn regardless, to give
it the maximum time to get through before a prospective general election
(which most commentators believe will be some time towards the end of the
first half of next year).

We are reasonably confident that the Bill, when it comes, can be stopped in
the Lords--though that will take work.  There was no mandate for it in the
government's last election manifesto, so the Lords has every reason to
exercise a restraining power on such a profound measure.  After the General
Election, it is likely that the Labour government will be returned again,
in which case it seems very likely that the population database will be
back, perhaps under yet another new name.

But if we can create delay we will have gained some time to bring the
myriad problems and oppressive details to public attention.

**STOP PRESS
A disturbing leak to the Sunday Times - a database of all children
<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1190990,00.html>
This fills a mysterious gap since the Blunkett Draft Bill doesn't appear to
cover children, AND it appears to be going to be introduced without warning
as an amendment on an existing Bill, AND it is proposed as a database not
just of children's names and addresses, but familial and other personal
details including prejudicial facts (possibly even rumours) about family
members.  So if this is real and not just kite-flying, it will violate
several assurances we've been given about the National ID Register--before
the Register itself is even in existence.

"ID" IN THE NEWS
----------------
An illustration of how campaigning can work from America.  One man changes
the course of the US government:
<http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,64249,00.html>

**

CONFUSION about parameters and scope threatens ID card success -
ComputerWeekly.com:
<http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=131860>

**

Do you have friends in the Isle of Man or Channel Islands?  Time for them
to think about this too:
<http://www.dca.gov.uk/speeches/2004/lc100504.htm>

**

(Some links from friends and personal browsing, others gathered via the
splendid Google news alert service.  Please send me any items of interest
you encounter -Editor)

WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
------------------------
Like any campaign we need funds and people.  Any help or expertise of any
kind you can spare will be most welcome.  Most important is to get other
people involved and to understand the issues.  ID-CARDS sound
innocent.  When people know that they (and their children) may be
fingerprinted like criminals and will be made to register every change of
address with the secret police, their attitude changes.  So:-

1. Tell your friends about the campaign and that you are supporting
it.  Feel free to redistribute this newsletter to acquaintances.  (But
please do introduce it personally and don't spam.)  Your personal witness
will help others understand that this is an important real-life matter, and
not just the province of hyper-political nuts.

2. Let us know if you have time or special expertise that you can give to
the organisation, even if only a couple of hours a week.  We desperately
need an experienced Press Officer, secretarial staff, and policy
researchers.  Professional creative and marketing expertise are badly
wanted to lift public awareness of the issues.

3. Get together with others in your area to form a local group.  A national
campaign needs a national network.  Guy Taylor <guy at no2id.net> can give you
advice on how to do this.  If you are in London come to the open,
pub-based, meetings that we hold every month on a Thursday somewhere
central.  Details are posted on the website.

4. Write to the local and national press, to express your concerns whenever
there is relevant news.  Phone-in to appropriate radio and TV
programs.  There is plenty of information on (and linked to) the website to
help you do this.

5. Write to your MP and MEP expressing your disquiet and ask for _their
personal opinion_.  (Big-party MPs in particular sometimes avoid
controversial issues, or may pass on your letter to the Home Office rather
than answering for themselves.)

6. Buy a T-shirt, and wear it. This publicises the message--people will ask
you what it means--and raises funds.  Details on the website.  You can buy
online at: <http://www.ntkmart.co.uk/ntkmart.cgi#No2ID>

7. Join.  Membership costs £15 a year and entitles you to a say in the
running of NO2ID.  A membership form will appear on the website shortly.

8. Give generously.  A few weeks back we had no money.  Now we have next to
no money.  The Home Office is planning to spend billions.  But we will
spend your money better.  Direct payments to HSBC Account in the name of
NO2ID, A/c no: 91339427, Sort Code 40-28-15.  You can send a cheque,
payable to "NO2ID" to:  NO2ID, c/o Privacy International, 2nd Floor,
Lancaster House, 33 Islington High Street, London N1 9LH.   Special
donation or sponsorship enquiries should be made to phil at no2id.net   Help
in kind is equally welcome.

NO2ID WHO'S WHO AND RESOURCES
-----------------------------
First port of call should be the website:  <http://www.no2id.net/>

If you have specific assistance or information to offer, you can contact
the following NO2ID people:

National Coordinator - Mark Littlewood  <mark at no2id.net>
National Secretary - Adam McGregor  <adam at no2id.net>
Treasurer/Fundraiser - Phil <phil at no2id.net>
Marketing/Communications - Andy Robson <andy at no2id.net>
(Current Newsletter Editor - Guy Herbert <newsletter at no2id.net>)
Public Affairs and Parliamentary Liaison - Dave Walker <dave at no2id.net>
Local Group Coordinator - Guy Taylor <guy at no2id.net>
IT Administrator - Owen Blacker <owen at no2id.net>

Please, please remember that everybody on this list will be getting a huge
amount of email, so you should only direct enquiries to the relevant
person.  We are grateful for all specific offers of help, but can't give
detailed answers to individual general queries.  There is a lot of
information on the website.  And there will soon be much, much more.

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Publication details:   (c) NO2ID 2004 - 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.   NO2ID, c/o Privacy
International, 2nd Floor, Lancaster House, 33 Islington High Street, London
N1 9LH