[no2id-supporters] NO2ID Newsletter No.120

Thu Apr 2 15:35:27 BST 2009

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     ++ NO2ID Supporters' Newsletter No. 120 - 2nd April 2009 ++

*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)

       + BUILDING THE RESISTANCE +

The government may have stepped back from universal information sharing
in the Coroners and Justice Bill, but that doesn't mean it has given up
on any number of "joined-up" database projects. Nor has NO2ID given up
resisting them.

The victory against clause 152 shows that our strategy of building up
our network, and preparing the resistance in advance, really works. So
please help us continue to do that by spreading the word.

There are several active campaigns at the moment to get behind:

* Taking and displaying the NO2ID Pledge [1] and getting others to do so
will help spread knowledge of what the ID scheme really means for
control of our personal information and just what the HomeOffice means
by "voluntary".

* If you have not already written to your GP asking him or her not to
upload your medical records to "the spine", then please consider doing
so [2]. The Department of Health is *still* pushing that forward despite
all medical objection.

* If you have children, then write to your local authority demanding
that their details are "shielded" on the ContactPoint database.

* If you have ever been arrested and not convicted, or know someone who
has, then in the light of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in
the case of Marper [3] the time is right to contact the Chief Constable
of the force involved and ask them to delete DNA, fingerprint and police
records, and destroy the DNA sample as required by the European Court of
Human Rights.

These government programmes only thrive if we treat them as though they
are inevitable. They are not. If it meets resistance at every turn, then
slowly officialdom may get the message: We don't want the database state!

References:
[1] http://www.no2id.net/pledge
[2] http://www.nhsconfidentiality.org
[3] http://www.genewatch.org/sub-563146
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       What just happened?

         + Report slams Database State +

The Joseph Rowntree Trust, along with the Foundation for Information
Policy Research (fipr), has produced a report into the UK's database
state. The report aptly named 'Database State' assesses 46 databases
across the major government departments, and finds that: "A quarter of
the public-sector databases reviewed are almost certainly illegal under
human rights or data protection law; they should be scrapped or
substantially redesigned". The databases are graded using a traffic
light system. Amongst those graded as red are the National Identity
register, the National DNA Database, Contact Point and the
communications database. The report also highlights some bizarre
databases, such as the National Childhood Obesity Database which
contains "the results of height and weight measurements taken from
school pupils in Year 1 (age 5--6) and Year 6 (10--11) since 2005" and
whilst it is the largest of its kind in the world, it is "simply
unnecessary".
Download the report at http://www.jrrt.org.uk

         +Government defeated over Common Travel Area passport checks +

On Wednesday Lords voted to remove Clause 48 from the Border,
Citizenship and Immigration bill that would have allowed the government
to remove the passport-free zone known as the Common Travel Area
(comprising of Republic of Ireland, UK, Isle of Man & Guernsey). Once
again the government was accused of asking for a blank cheque - Lord
Pannick said: "It is, in my view, wrong in principle for the Government
to invite this House to approve a clause that confers powers that are
far wider than the Government wish to exercise, when the width of the
powers that would be conferred affect fundamental and historic rights to
freedom of movement. That is undoubtedly the position in relation to
Clause 48."
Read the debate transcript at
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90401-0005.htm#09040160000478
Watch the debate at (starts 01h 46m in):
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=3755

         + German Court rules against blanked data retention +

A court in Germany has ruled that blanket recording of the entire
population's telephone, mobile phone, e-mail and Internet usage (known
as data retention) is disproportionate. The ruling states: "The court is
of the opinion that data retention violates the fundamental right to
privacy. It is not necessary in a democratic society. The individual
does not provoke the interference but can be intimidated by the risks of
abuse and the feeling of being under surveillance [...] The directive
[on data retention] does not respect the principle of proportionality
guaranteed in Article 8 ECHR, which is why it is invalid." The proposed
Communications Data bill will bring the EU directive on communications
data into UK law.
For more information see
http://www.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/content/view/301/79/lang,en/
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       What's next?

*+ Volunteers needed for Mark Thomas gigs +*
Mark Thomas has invited NO2ID to help at some of his shows this year.
NO2ID needs volunteers to help out as Mark tours around the country -
please contact the NO2ID office (office at no2id.net) and we will put you
in touch with relevant local group.
For details of gigs see http://www.markthomasinfo.com/section_gigs/

*+ UK Tour of Anti-ID play +*
The UK tour of the play 'Another Paradise' is now underway. The play
asks "What will it actually mean if all our personal information is at
the fingertips of a civil servant ... or a hacker? Does that violate our
individuality - who we are, what we are?". The tour will visit
Yorkshire, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Stockton-on-Tees, Leeds,
Plymouth, Coventry and London
Details at http://www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whatson/Another_Paradise.htm

         + LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

To see if there's a group in your area check our list at
http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/
Or, if you're interested in starting a group yourself, please contact
Matty on local.groups at no2id.net to discuss what's involved and what we
have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

_*+ Cambridge +*_

*+ 18th April - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +*
Saturday, 18th April at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge
Guildhall. Location Map: (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS).
Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you'd like to help.

*+ 20th & 21st April - Mark Thomas Gigs in Cambridge +*
Mark Thomas has invited NO2ID to help at some of his shows this year.
Although details are still being finalised, Cambridge NO2ID is likely to
be providing volunteers for at least one of Mark's Cambridge shows, on
20th & 21st April:
http://www.junction.co.uk/events/day/2009/04/20/407-mark-thomas
If you'd like to volunteer (and incidentally also see a show for free),
please contact cambridge at no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

*+ 6th May - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month) +*
Wednesday, 6th May 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd,
Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/CYXNES29). For more
details contact cambridge at no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

_*+ Camden and Islington +*_

*+ 7th April - NO2ID Camden & Islington Meeting (1st Tuesday of month) +*
Tuesday, 7th April 8pm at The Castle, 54 Pentonville Road. For more info
email camden at no2id.net or join the mailing list at:
(http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.camden). All welcome.

_*+ Canterbury +

*_*+ 16th April - Canterbury NO2ID Meeting +*
Thursday, 16th April 7.30pm at the Hobgoblin, Canterbury. We're looking
at some actions and events for the summer, including coming together
with other local groups to protest against the interrogation centres in
Kent. Please come and get involved! High profile actions and events take
lots of work and people power - we need you!

*+ 16th May - Canterbury NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday, 16th May 10am til 1pm Canterbury High St.

If you know of any events that are running where a NO2ID presence would
be welcome please get in touch.  There are lots of resources such as
banners, sign up sheets, leaflets, badges available. If you would like
to go on our local mailing list please e-mail canterbury at no2id.net or
phone Caz on 07792 567087.

_*+ Deptford+ *_

*+ 12th April - Deptford NO2ID Meeting (2nd Sunday of month) +*
Sunday, 12th April 7.30pm at the Royal Albert pub, New Cross Road, SE8.
For further details contact Robin Tudge on deptford:no2id.net

To stay up to date join the Deptford NO2ID mailing list on:
hhttp://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.deptford

_*+ Dorking +*_

Dorking Group has an informal get together every first Tuesday of the
month at the Lincoln Arms 7.30pm near Dorking mainline station --
newcomers welcome.

Also a meeting has been organised with Chris Grayling Shadow Home
Secretary for 9th September 7.30pm, Bourne Hall, Ewell (see Epsom for
more info). Help needed to promote and organise this large scale event.

_*+ 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/

*+ 1st May - Edinburgh NO2ID Meeting +*
Friday, 1st May at 7.00pm in The Meeting Room, Quaker Meeting House,7
Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh.

_*+ Epsom +*_

A date for your diary: 9th September 7.30pm, Bourne Hall. The Epsom
Group in conjunction with Sutton and Dorking are holding a Question Time
/ Public Meeting with Chris Grayling MP, Shadow Home Secretary and 3 or
4 other panellists. This will be a great opportunity to have your say
directly to a possible new Home Secretary if the Conservatives win the
next election. Volunteers needed to help promote the meeting.

If anyone wants to get involved in the Epsom area, please email or phone
NO2ID South East Regional Coordinator Geoff Cox on south.east at no2id.net
or call 01306 631377.*
*
_*+ Glasgow +*_

*+ 7th April - Glasgow NO2ID Meeting (reverting to 1st Tuesday of month) +*
Tuesday, 7th April at 8pm in Mono. All welcome. Please contact Geraint
for further details: glasgow at no2id.net

_*+ Hebden Bridge +*_

*+ 16th April - Hebden Bridge NO2ID Meeting +*
Thursday, 16th April 7.30 pm at the Fox and Goose. We are pleased to
welcome along Councillor Nader Fekri from the local Liberal Democrats
who will be joined by regional co-ordinator James Elsdon-Baker in saying
a few words at the meeting.  Can you please email
hebden.bridge at no2id.netif you intend to come along so we have an idea of
numbers.

_*+ Norwich +*_

*+ 4th April - 1up Fest Music Event in support of NO2ID at The Queen
Charlotte (and subsequently across the country) +*
On Saturday 4th April ska punkers The Faintest Idea
(http://www.myspace.com/faintestidea) will be giving out NO2ID
paraphernalia on their merchandise stall, here playing along with Random
Hand and The Skints at the 1up Fest weekender event.

*+ 11th April - Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday, 11th April from 1pm until 3pm at The Haymarket on Gentleman's
Walk. Come to show your support and engage in database state debate.

*+ 14th April - Norwich NO2ID Group Meeting +*
Tuesday, 14th April at The Workshop (opposite The Black Horse) on
Earlham Road from 7.30pm- 9pm. We will discuss events happening in the
area, what we can do to raise awareness of this issue and further
positive action we can take. Parking can be found nearby on Mill Hill
Road and Park Lane.

*+ 24th April - Norwich NO2ID Stall at Mark Thomas Event at The Playhouse +*
Friday, 24th April sees Mark Thomas bringing his political comedy to
Norwich. He has helpfully agreed to let us put a stand up to inform
people about the cause, starting 7pm-8pm and then after the show
10pm-11pm approx.

If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join
their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

_*+ Oxford +*_

*+ 25th April - Faringdon Peace Group 'TAKING LIBERTIES' event +*
Saturday, 25th April 2-6pm at the Corn Exchange, Faringdon. Admission
free. All welcome. Refreshments. An afternoon of speeches and debate on
the theme of the erosion of our civil liberties. Speakers: Tony Benn,
Henry Porter, Scilla Elworthy, Derek Wall and Ed Vaizey MP. Chair:
Malcolm Harper. More information from Jennie Chesterton 01367-710308, or
Karen Vogt 01367-241707 or email karen at vogt.org.uk

See the website for more: http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/

_*+ Reading +*_

*+ 6th April - Reading NO2ID Meeting +*
Monday, 6th April 8pm in The Great Expectations pub

_*+ Selby +*_

*+ 4th April - Selby NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday, 4th April 10.30am Parliament Street, York - Selby group
joining York group for a street stall.

_*+ Sheffield +*_

*+ 18th April - Sheffield NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday, 18th April 11am-2pm at  the top of Fargate and the Peace
Gardens the newly formed Sheffield NO2ID will be holding a street stall.
Any people wishing to volunteer should contact sheffield at no2id.net

*+ 6th May - Sheffield NO2ID Meeting (1st Wednesday of month)  +*
Wednesday, 6th May at 7.30pm upstairs at The Harlequin Pub, 108 Nursery
St, Sheffield, S3 8GG (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=s3+8gg). The plan
is to carry on meeting on the first Wednesday of every month. We hope to
welcome along all those who wished to come to the first meeting but were
not able!

_*+ Shrewsbury +*_

*+ 20th April - Shrewsbury NO2ID "dining club" (3rd Monday of the month) +*
Monday, 20th April - our regular "dining club" is meeting at about
7.15pm somewhere in the town centre. Do join us for a meal, or just come
along for a drink. We need to book the table a few days in advance, so
contact Rob Findlay on shrewsbury at no2id.net (or 07973 848910) if you'd
like to come along.

_*+ Worcester +*_

*+ 8th April - Worcester NO2ID Meeting (2nd Wednesday of month) +*
Wednesday, 8th April 8pm at The Portobello Inn, St Johns, Worcester (map
available from our website @
http://www.no2id-worcester.org.uk/meetings). Look out for the NO2ID logo
to spot us if you have not been before. Its an open door policy. Anyone
can come along regardless of your stance, experience or awareness on the
issues regarding or related to the National Identity Scheme. Why not
bring a friend and join us for some drinks!

Stay tuned for the details of the meeting's outcome on our website blog
@ http://www.no2id-worcester.org.uk/blog

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

       "ID" in the news

*+ Tough New Rules Target Bogus Colleges And Education Cheats - The Sikh
Times 31/3/09 +*
Institutions have to register with the UK Border Agency before they are
allowed to sponsor international students to come here under the student
tier of Britain's tough new points system.
http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=4444

*+ Big Brother is watching: surveillance box to track drivers is backed
- The Guardian 31/3/09 +*
Under the proposals, vehicles will emit a constant "heartbeat" revealing
their location, speed and direction of travel. Roads in the UK are
already subject to the closest surveillance of any in the world. Police
control a database that is fed information from automatic number plate
recognition (ANPR) cameras, and are able to deduce the journeys of as
many as 10 million drivers a day. Details are stored for up to five years.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/31/surveillance-transport-communication-box

*+ Government may lift lid on NHS IT project secrecy - ComputerWorldUK
27/3/09 +*
The government may do a dramatic U-turn and start releasing the findings
of its Gateway Review project management reports on major IT projects.
http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/it-business/it-organisation/news/index.cfm?RSS&newsid=14076

*+ Data sharing plans face further scrutiny - Computing 26/3/09 +*
The government will face a continued fight to introduce plans for
greater public sector information sharing despite dropping controversial
proposals last week. Privacy campaigners know that legislation is almost
certain to be re-introduced -- but next time as a law of its own,
rather than as an addition to a largely unrelated bill, which was the
case with the now-scrapped Clause 152 of the Coroners and Justice Bill.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/analysis/2239071/sharing-plans-face-further-4550177

*+ Warning to Tories that abolishing ID cards will cost £40m - Scotsman
24/3/09 +*
Scrappimg plans for a national identity card scheme would cost £40
million, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said yesterday. In an attack
on the Conservatives, who have pledged to abolish the scheme, Ms Smith
said doing so would "not free up a large fund of money to spend on other
priorities".
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Warning-to-Tories-that-abolishing.5100541.jp

*+ Home Office details early ID vendors - Kable 24/3/09 +*
The Home Office has listed 3M and nCipher as providers to the early
stage of the National Identity Scheme. Home secretary Jacqui Smith said
that, as well as Thales' £18m contract for development of technology and
processes -- which was publicised last year -- nCipher will be paid
about £1.3m for a contract to provide "public key infrastructure and
security related work".
http://www.kablenet.com/kd.nsf/Frontpage/FBEB140C3DE711BA8025758300427421?OpenDocument

*+ ID cards not compulsory after all, says Home Office - The Register
24/3/09 +*
Plans to make ID cards compulsory for UK citizens at some point in the
middle distance have been officially abandoned, apparently. According to
the Home Office's revised counter-terrorism strategy document, published
today, "It is not our intention that identity cards should be mandatory
for UK nationals."
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/24/id_cards_voluntaryish/

*+ Security flaws halt work on ContactPoint child database - The Times
24/3/09 +*
Security flaws have halted work on the internet database designed to
hold the details of 11 million children and teenagers. The Department
for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) admitted last night that it
had uncovered problems in the system for shielding details of an
estimated 55,000 vulnerable children.
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article5962974.ece

*+ Stasi HQ UK... where details of all your journeys are secretly logged
and kept for a decade - Daily Mail 21/3/09 +*
This anonymous office building on a business park near Heathrow Airport
is where the Government has begun monitoring millions of British
holidaymakers using its controversial new 'terrorist detector' database.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1163786/Stasi-HQ-UK---details-journeys-secretly-logged-kept-decade.html

*+ Government flags ID cost increase - Kable 18/3/09 +*
Meg Hillier told Parliament on 11 March 2009 that introducing and
producing passports containing fingerprints will cost "about 70%" of the
ten year budget of the National Identity Scheme for UK nationals,
currently £4.785m. This would put the specific costs of identity cards
at around £1.44bn.
http://www.kablenet.com/kd.nsf/Frontpage/EC40C60FA59ED7388025757800597DD6?OpenDocument

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter -
Editor(newsletter at no2id.net) )
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NO2ID, Box 412, 19-21 Crawford Street, LONDON W1H 1PJ