[no2id-supporters] NO2ID Newsletter No.62

Thu Jan 4 16:39:48 GMT 2007

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    NO2ID logo
    NO2ID Supporters' Newsletter No. 62 - 4th January 2007

*Contacting us:* Call or email the office - 020-7793-4005 or 
(office at no2id.net). Please do not reply to this email. (The from address 
is the not a working email address)

      PLEASE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE BIG OPT OUT

Thousands of people have already downloaded and used 
TheBigOptOut.org's[1] letter, and officials at Connecting for Health - 
the NPfIT division of the Department of Health - are making increasingly 
desperate and sometimes contradictory statements and claims. Lord Warner 
(only days after announcing his resignation) got a drubbing from 
Cambridge Professor of Security Engineering, Ross Anderson on the Today 
show, and Harry Cayton, CfH's 'patient tsar', just can't seem to 
understand why people won't take him at his word on the security of the 
system, and who will have access to your medical records, just weeks 
after DoH has gone back on its promise of a meaningful opt-out. Please 
write to your GP using the opt out letter on TheBigOptOut site, their 
handy form allows you to enter your details and then print off your own 
letter. In addition please tell all your friends about the opt out 
letter - the more of us that contact our GPs the more likely we are to 
succeed.

References:

[1] The Big Opt Out has been formed in response to the fact that 
millions of personal medical records are to be uploaded, regardless of 
patients' wishes, to a central national database (the NHS spine). As the 
Guardian put it in November: "The NHS's centralised and computerised 
system 'Spine' poses a very real threat of breaches of confidentiality 
of health records and raises the spectre of other agencies getting a 
view too". It is likely that the NHS database will be linked to the 
National Identity Register via citizen's unique National Identity 
Register Number.

[2] The opt out letter is at www.TheBigOptOut.org/optoutletter

      What's next?

        Consultation on DNA database

A consultation by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCoB) is seeking 
views on DNA and the DNA database. The consultation, 'Forensic use of 
bioinformation: ethical issues' closes on 30th January 2007. We urge 
anyone who feels strongly about this issue to read the consultation 
paper and submit a written response asap (responses can be sent via 
e-mail). It is worth remembering that when it was found that DNA data 
(and samples) were being retained illegally, the government did not 
respond by enforcing rules that existed to protect the innocent - it 
passed new laws that allowed the innocent (even the proven innocent) to 
be treated exactly the same as convicted criminals. For more information 
on DNA issues generally see the website of Genewatch (www.genewatch.org).
See http://tinyurl.com/yb5gjx

        Local groups

We now our most northerly local group - in Shetland (contact via 
shetland at no2id). We groups all around the country and in 36 of the 69 
locations of ID interrogation centres. If you can help to set up a local 
group in one of the remaining towns then please contact us at 
(office at no2id.net). A full list of local groups can be found at 
www.no2id.net/localGroups

        9th January and then 1st Tuesday of the month - Hackney NO2ID
        monthly meetings

The Hackney local group covering London E8, E5, E9 & N16 areas meet on 
the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 in Cafe Bohemia by Hackney 
Central Station. New support very welcome to help raise awareness over 
the coming months.

        NO2ID Cambridge Campaign stall

Cambridge NO2ID will be running Saturday street stalls outside Cambridge 
Guildhall from 10am onwards on Saturday 6th January, Saturday 27th 
January, and every third Saturday until at least March. Location Map: 
http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. Volunteers to help very welcome - contact 
Andrew Watson via cambridge at no2id.net, or on 07710 469624.

        Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh Campaign stall

After a short break during Christmas and Hogmanay NO2ID Edinburgh will 
resume its regular Princes Street campaigning stall on Saturday 13 
January. We shall be at our usual location at the east end of Princes 
Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel, from 1pm - 3pm. We use our stall to 
raise public awareness of the Identity Cards scheme, collect donations 
and entries for the NO2ID petition, and also to increase membership of 
our group.  Please do pop by for a chat if you happen to be around. We 
aim to have the stall up and running most Saturdays, and new volunteers 
are always very welcome. You can see photos of our stall and group 
contact details at: www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

        7th February NO2ID Brighton Public Meeting - Patient Privacy in
        the Database State

Wednesday, 7th Feb, 7pm - 9pm at Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, 
Brighton. The Government is planning to upload all of our patient 
records onto a new database system called the NHS spine. They claim it 
will allow paramedics quick access to medical information on the scene 
of an accident but who other than paramedics will be viewing this 
information? What happens when the information on the database is 
incorrect? And will this system link in with the surveillance 'audit 
trail' built into the ID cards system? Speakers: Prof. Ross Anderson, 
Cllr. Helen Wilkinson, Duncan Campbell, Dr. Bob Brecher.
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      What just happened?

        NO2ID's latest Activ8 video

A new video featuring backstage interviews filmed at NO2ID's comedy 
benefit gig last year has been put on the Activ8 website. Activ8 is a 
community television channel set up by the BBC's Action Network. The 
channel has been following eight social activists (one of which is NO2ID 
national co-ordinator Phil Booth) and their campaigns on TV, the web and 
broadband since July 2006. A higher quality version will be added to 
YouTube shortly. Watch the video at 
http://www.communitychannel.org/content/view/908/101/

        Government sneak out ID Action Plan

As things were winding down just before Christmas the government snuck 
out their 'Strategic Action Plan for the National Identity Scheme'. The 
plan, like most official documents, isn't a great read but there are 
some interesting and worrying titbits in there. For example the 
government are beginning to pave the way for wholesale data-sharing (aka 
destruction of privacy) when they state: "It would also be possible, 
subject to Parliamentary approval, for information to be provided 
without consent to, for example, government departments or other public 
bodies." They also warn that: "In mid 2007 we plan to commence a live 
pilot of interviewing first-time adult passport applicants."
See www.identitycards.gov.uk/downloads/Strategic_Action_Plan.pdf

        UK Government laundering National Identity Database

Representatives of 13 European countries, Japan, Georgia, the USA and 
the European Commission met in in the city of Porvoo, Finland in 
November at a conference on 'Interoperable European Electronic 
Identities'. Amongst the documents of the meeting is a list of 
resolutions passed. One resolution of particular interest is: 
"Resolution 4. Given the request by the UK, there shall be a certain 
focus on back office processes, in particular on the role of national 
population registers in accessing public services, at the next Porvoo 
Group conference." Once again it appears that the UK government are 
calling on international bodies to create agreements or standards that 
they can then tout as an international requirement that must be followed 
- thus circumventing the parliamentary process (see 
www.policylaundering.org for more examples). The Porvoo Group is an 
international group seeking interoperable ID to assist in the delivery 
of e-government and private sector services in the EU.
See http://www.porvoo10.net/p10/

        Details of US watch list Database revealed

The US Department of Homeland Security has put online details of its 
Automated Targeting System (ATS) for travellers. The system, which is a 
federal database that creates secret terrorist ratings on all people 
crossing US borders, apparently went into operation on 6th December. The 
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) recently released a report 
'Spotlight on Surveillance' that looks at the problems of automated 
targeting.
See http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/06-9026.htm and EPIC's report is 
at http://tinyurl.com/yckc9u

        Belgium rules out "Big Brother" health database

The Belgian government is hoping to cut healthcare paperwork by creating 
an "electronic platform" for communication between different players in 
the sector. For instance, it would enable a GP to sign a patient up for 
disability benefits online. But, says IT Minister Peter Vanvelthoven, 
the scheme "won't turn into a big database with the health data of every 
patient in Belgium on it. Nobody wants that kind of a Big Brother 
set-up. It wouldn't be good  good for confidence, either among 
healthcare providers or among the patients. And I wouldn't be too 
pleased if my own medical data were dumped on the street."

        After a sinister year, it's down to us to protect our freedoms

Henry Porter wraps up the year with a comment piece in the Observer 
about public compliance with the government's erosion of civil liberties 
in 2006.
http://www.no2id.net/news/newsblog/?p=508
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      "ID" in the news

        Iris use dropped in ID card plans - Computing 4/1/07

Plans to use iris biometrics for the government's national identity card 
scheme have been shelved because of cost and technical uncertainties.
http://www.vnunet.com/computing/news/2171789/iris-dropped-id-card-plans

        MPs attack US deal on travellers' information - The Telegraph 2/1/07

Anger over the deal allowing the American authorities to obtain detailed 
information about passengers flying to the US intensified last night as 
MPs across the Commons condemned the agreement reached by Brussels 
negotiators. Ministers were under pressure to spell out the full terms 
of the pact after The Daily Telegraph's disclosure that the US had 
demanded the right to inspect email and credit card accounts of foreign 
nationals travelling to America.
http://tinyurl.com/y2jpqb

        Concern over union call for school ID cards - The Scotsman 27/12/06

A teaching union was last night accused of attempting to turn Scotland's 
secondary schools into prisons after calling for pupils to be issued 
with photographic identity cards. The Scottish Secondary Teachers' 
Association (SSTA) said it would help to crack down on bullying by 
ending the problem of young people having their school-meal swipe cards 
stolen and used by other pupils.
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1917012006

        BMA may seek NHS records system boycott - OUT-LAW News 22/12/06

Doctors will be advised to refuse to use the NHS's computer system 
unless the Department of Health (DoH) changes its mind on behaviour 
which the British Medical Association says is unlawful. The DoH has 
refused to allow a large number of patients to opt out of its 
controversial computerised patient records system, which is still in 
development. The BMA says that that refusal is unlawful and could result 
in a boycott of the system by GPs.
http://www.out-law.com/page-7603

        Visitors to give biometric data - The Times 20/12/06

Hundreds of thousands of non-Europeans living in Britain will be forced 
to register their biometric data as part of the national identity card 
scheme, the Government said yesterday. Initially, 700,000 foreigners who 
renew their permits each year will be targeted.
http://tinyurl.com/yjnjmx

        Rethink on ID card computer plan - BBC News Online 19/12/06

The government has abandoned plans to build a new computer system as 
part of the national identity cards scheme.
Instead information will be held on three existing and separate 
databases. Home Secretary John Reid denied this was a "u-turn" saying it 
would save money, lead to greater efficiency and lower the risk of fraud.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6192419.stm

        Connecting to London -- London citizen smart card planned for
        2008 - europa.eu 18/12/06

London Connects, the London-wide agency supporting local, regional and 
central government in the development and delivery of eGovernment 
services, is working on plans to introduce a new pan-London citizen card 
scheme by 2008.
http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/6406/194

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - 
Editor(newsletter at no2id.net) )
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      What you can do

You can help us by:

        1. Joining NO2ID or donating to the campaign

Please join NO2ID, if you are not already a paid-up member. (There's a 
membership form at http://www.no2id.net/downloads/membForm.pdf) OR 
Donate some money towards campaign expenses. NO2ID, Box 412, 19-21 
Crawford Street, LONDON W1H 1PJ

        2. Helping to spread our message

Tell your friends and any organisations that you belong to about the 
NO2ID campaign and that you are supporting it. Most people are scarcely 
aware of the government's ID database project, and few understand the 
dangers. Feel free to redistribute this newsletter to acquaintances.

* We also maintain a list of things you can do on our website at 
http://www.no2id.net/getInvolved/other.php
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Publication details: © NO2ID 2007 - This document may be freely 
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it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be 
mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.

NO2ID, Box 412, 19-21 Crawford Street, LONDON W1H 1PJ
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