[no2id-supporters] NO2ID Newsletter No.92
no2id-supporters at no2id.net
no2id-supporters at no2id.net
Thu Feb 28 16:56:01 GMT 2008
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++++ NO2ID SUPPORTERS' NEWSLETTER NO.92 - 28th February 2008 ++++
Please note: We are concerned that our newsletter email has not been
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text to see if it helps. Please add no2id-supporters at no2id.net to your
address book.
You can view the newsletter on-line in its usual format at:
http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=92
--
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 not a working email address)
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++WHAT'S IN YOUR ID DOSSIER?++
The Identity & Passport Service (IPS) has said that it will - eventually
- be building a dossier of up to 200 personal questions to ask everyone
when they apply for a passport and ID card. Given the government's
appalling record on handling personal information, and even if this
process weren't going to lead to lifelong registration on the ID
database (the 'National Identity Register'), the risks are obvious.
At present only some people applying for their FIRST adult passport are
being called in for an official interview - mainly young people. No-one
is being issued with an ID card, and IPS has yet to issue the contracts
to build the Register.
NO2ID has discovered that you can successfully request a transcript of
the interview under the Data Protection Act. It will cost you £10, but
some of the information in it could be immensely useful to the campaign.
We want to know what questions are being asked. Just the questions - NOT
your information. NO2ID respects your privacy.
If you are applying for your first UK passport or if you've been called
in for interview then you can help. Please contact passports at no2id.net
to let us know if you've been called in (not everyone is) and, after the
interview, contact the centre and ask for a transcript. You may need to
make what is called a 'Subject Access' request - a sample letter can be
found on the Information Commissioner's site [1], where you can also
learn more about 'Subject Access'.
When you receive your transcript, please make a copy, BLACK OUT YOUR
ANSWERS, and send it to our office:
NO2ID, Box 412
19-21 Crawford Street
London W1H 1PJ
Or, if you prefer, you could send an e-mail containing just the text of
what the official said, to passports at no2id.net - NO2ID does not want
your personal details! We want to know which personal details the
government is seeking.
Thanks for your help.
--
REFERENCES:
[1]
http://www.ico.gov.uk/Home/what_we_cover/data_protection/your_rights/how_to_access_information.aspx
[2]
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/subject_access_-_guide_for_data_subjects.pdf
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++TAKE THE NO2ID PLEDGE ++
The NO2ID Pledge - a way for people to personally and publicly declare
that they will refuse to comply with the government's ID scheme. The
pledge is an act of *pre-emptive* resistance and is, as such, entirely
legal. You can resolve openly, and clearly, not to do those specific
things that give the ID scheme its parasitic vitality. It's something
positive that you can do NOW.
We have created The NO2ID Pledge certificate, for you to fill out and
sign in front of a witness. You can find out more and download
certificates from http://www.no2id.net/pledge/
Please don't just print one copy... print five... or fifty and pass them
on to people who you think might also pledge. The idea is to spread The
NO2ID Pledge as far and as wide as possible.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Completed pledges should not be returned to NO2ID, they
ideally should be displayed in your home or workplace to encourage
discussion about the ID scheme and inspire others to take the pledge.
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++WHAT'S NEXT?++
++8th April - NO2ID London Mayoral Hustings++
Tuesday, 8th April 7pm at Friends House, 173 Euston Road NW1 2BJ. NO2ID
is holding hustings among the candidates for Mayor of London to discover
their positions on The Database State. How do candidates feel about the
civil liberties and privacy implications of, among other things, the
Oyster Card, congestion charging, telephone parking? Would they support
or oppose national ID schemes as mayor? What is their attitude to the
database state? Prospective candidates Gerrard Batten (UKIP), Sian Berry
(Green), Lindsay German (Respect), Boris Johnson (Conservative), and
Brian Paddick (LibDem) have indicated interest in participating already.
++Call for volunteers - London office++
We need help running our office in London. If you live in London and
have a few hours to spare regularly during the week please volunteer to
join the staff rota helping with the vital clerical work to support the
campaign.
If you can help please contact the office if you can help
(office at no2id.net).
++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.
As of the end of January 2008, 22 of the centres had performed fewer
than 10 interrogations. There may still be time to apply for your first
adult passport without being called in for an official grilling - but,
if you are, your details still won't be going onto the National Identity
Register. It isn't built yet.
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 at no2id.net
++BIRMINGHAM++
The Birmingham NO2ID group held their first meeting on Monday 25th
February. Turnout was high with all who attended demonstrating
enthusiasm and a strong commitment to raising awareness in the city of
the implications of the ID card scheme and National Identity Register.
The group discussed the reasons for their opposition to ID cards and the
Register and potential future activities including leafleting, a DVD
screening and a practical workshop looking at how to structure letters
of protest.
++31st March - Birmingham NO2ID Meeting++
Monday, 31st March 7.30pm at the Mac (Midlands Arts Centre). All are
welcome to attend.
++CAMBRIDGE++
++5th March - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month)++
Wednesday, 5th March 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd,
Cambridge CB1 2DW. Map: (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw). For
more details contact cambridge at no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710
469624.
++8th March - NO2ID Cambridge Stall++
Saturday, 8th March 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 at no2id.net, or text/call
Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.
++CANTERBURY++
Canterbury NO2ID has launched a new website at
http://canterbury.no2id.net. This should help us to further publicise
our local campaign, raise awareness of the national campaign and give
our members the chance to have their say. The site will not replace the
important work of activity on the streets and gaining local press
coverage, but it does give us another opportunity to spread the word. We
need volunteers to write content or to moderate comments (at least, deal
with any spam) so please get in touch.
++5th March - Canterbury NO2ID Meeting (1st Wednesday of each month)++
Wednesday, 5th March 7pm at Coffee and Corks, Palace Street, Canterbury.
Email canterbury at no2id.net for more info.
++DORKING++
Now an active group - we are planning local media events, a High St
stall and will be approaching the Local Council to get them to pass
anti-ID legislation.
++4th March - Dorking NO2ID Meeting++
Tuesday, 4th March 7.30pm. New permanent venue tba. More local members
needed.
++DOVER++
++28th February - Dover NO2ID AGM/Meeting++
Thursday, 28th February 7.45pm for an 8pm start at The Red Lion Pub,
Charlton Green, Dover, Kent. There will be some formalities to complete,
but it will be mostly a chance for members and supporters to gather and
discuss what has happened over the last year, and plan the next year.
All members and supporters from Dover, Deal, Folkestone, Hythe and
surrounding areas welcome.
++EDINBURGH++
++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 at no2id.net),
and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/
++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 at no2id.net
++MANCHESTER++
++8th March - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall++
Saturday, 8th March 2pm-4pm in St. Anne's Square we'll be running a
stall to raise awareness among the public and engage people in
discussion about the National Identity Register. We'll meet in the
square itself at 2pm to set up shop; feel free to join us to lend a hand
or just chat. Please note the new times - we're starting and finishing
an hour later than previously!
++12th March - Manchester NO2ID Meeting++
Wednesday, 12th March 7pm-9pm in the upstairs function room of the Town
Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. At our monthly meetings we discuss
the state of the NO2ID campaign, what we've been up to recently and
where we're going in future. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not,
curious or committed.
++OXFORD++
++6th March - NO2ID Oxford Meeting++
Thursday, 6th March at 8pm in the Mitre, High Street, Oxford
(http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=the+mitre+ox1). Having had a break in
February to catch our breath after the media frenzy around the barbeque,
we're back to discuss where we go next in our campaign - eg leafletting,
the mythical public meeting or other events to keep us in the public
eye. See you there
++SOUTHWARK++
The Southwark NO2ID Group has been invited to take a table at the
following three events. (Further details closer to each event).
22nd March, at the Synergy Centre at Camberwell.
18th April, Synergy at The SEOne Club, Weston Street under London Bridge.
26th April, Campaign for an English Parliament, Conway Hall, Red Lion
Square.
If you can spare a few hours to assist at any of these events, please
contact Judith at southwark at no2id.net. You do not have to be a member of
the Southwark Group to volunteer.
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++WHAT JUST HAPPENED?++
++DNA TEST CASE IS HEARD
An important case for the rights of innocent people to be removed from
the National DNA Database is being heard this week. Two British men, who
have not been convicted of any crime, are challenging the police's legal
right keep samples of their DNA and fingerprints at the European Court
of Human Rights. It is no coincidence that as the landmark case is being
heard there is a debate in the media about whether the UK's DNA database
should be extended to cover non-recordable offences (such as dropping
litter) or even the whole UK population. The decision on the case (known
as Marper, after one of the complainants) is expected later this year.
++LONDON ASSEMBLY SAYS NO TO ID CARDS
The London Assembly has called on the Government to abandon
controversial plans to introduce ID cards and instead spend London’s
share of the costs of the proposed scheme on tackling crime. The motion
was carried by a majority of 16 Assembly Members. A webcast of the
meeting, which took place on 20 February 2008, can be viewed at:
http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/webcasts.jsp
++NO2ID QUOTED IN WESTMINSTER DEBATE
A Westminster Hall debate on Electronic Patient Records last week (21st
February) heard an extract of a NO2ID press release concerning the
Secondary Uses Service SUS database. Sandra Gidley MP, quoting NO2ID
said: "The NHS database is not just used for patient care. The so-called
Secondary Uses Service (SUS) does not provide a service to patients. It
is a vast hidden system that distributes the most personal (and people
think private) information to a horde of bureaucrats and other third
parties".
A transcript of the debate is at http://tinyurl.com/2a4k2y
More information about the Secondary Uses Service can be found at
http://www.nhsconfidentiality.org/?page_id=30
++HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HEARS EVIDENCE ON ID CARDS & DATA SECURITY
On Tuesday (26th February) the House of Commons home affairs committee
held an evidence session on 'Identity Cards: data security issues'. The
committee heard evidence from Meg Hillier MP, Home Office Minister
responsible for Identity. Watch the session at
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=1201
(starts 1hr 1min into the video cast)
The transcript will be online shortly at
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhaff.htm
++WIKILEAKS - STILL LEAKING
Wikileaks, the site that hosted NO2ID's analysis of leaked documents
about the UK identity scheme, has been closed down. The site closure
followed a legal injunction by a US court after they published a leaked
documents about a Swiss bank implicated in alleged money laundering.
However a copy of the site was set up in Sweden and is still up and
running. This week wikileaks also published a 2002 briefing document on
the NHS IT project that show that Tony Blair sought to shorten the
timetable for the project.
NO2ID's document is now at
http://wikileaks.cx/wiki/National_Identity_Scheme_Options_Analysis_Outcome
The NHS IT briefing is at
http://wikileaks.cx/wiki/Tony_Blair_2002_NHS_IT_briefing
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++"ID" IN THE NEWS++
+Our right to privacy, unless guilty of a crime - The Independent 28/2/08
Two British men have argued before the European Court of Human Rights in
Strasbourg that the decision by the UK police to retain their DNA on a
national database, despite the fact that they are entirely innocent of
any crime, is a breach of their right to privacy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-our-right-to-privacy-unless-guilty-of-a-crime-788492.html
+One in eight samples from criminals in DNA database filed under
innocent names in Government blunder - Daily Mail 27/2/08
There are 550,000 false, misspelt or incorrect names on the Government's
vast DNA database, which contains more than 4 million samples. That
means one in every eight records is thought to be inaccurate.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=519568&expand=true
+Minister defends National ID Register security - The Register 27/2/08
The National Identity Register will have very limited access, stringent
security and no risk of 'discs flying around', MPs have been told. Home
Office minister Meg Hillier defended the government's plans for its
controversial National Identity Scheme, as she faced questions about
data security from a committee of MPs.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/27/national_identity_register_security/
+Foreigners will be thrown out of Britain if they refuse to give details
for ID cards - Daily Mail 25/2/08
Foreigners who repeatedly flout the rules when they are made to apply
for ID cards will be thrown out, the Government said yesterday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=518628&expand=true
+NHS database must go ahead, say MPs - Computing 25/2/08
Labour MP Kevin Baron attacked medical professionals for propagating "
palpable nonsense" in suggesting the government will profit by selling
the intended 60 million health records to pharmaceutical and insurance
companies.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2210437/nhs-database-ahead-say-mps
+Airport workers demand ID card consultation - ZDnet 21/2/08
Unite, the union which represents workers in the civil air transport
sector, wants "full consultation" with airport group BAA after it was
revealed it is in talks with the Home Office over the plan.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39327036,00.htm
+UK airport staff first to get ID cards - Financial Times 19/2/08
Thousands of airport workers will become the first British nationals to
be issued with new biometric identity cards within the next two years in
the latest government attempt to kick-start the controversial scheme.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/65573ad0-df25-11dc-91d4-0000779fd2ac.html
+Students held to ransom by government’s ID plans - The Journal 15/2/08
Students may be forced into holding ID cards in order to apply for a
student loan, Conservative MPs have warned.
http://www.journal-online.co.uk/articles/show/2871
(Please send me any items of interest you encounter -
Editor(newsletter at no2id.net) )
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