NO2ID: Minister's cynical spin on ID cards

Friday, 27, Jan 2006 12:00

NO2ID this morning accused the Government of appalling cynicism - on one hand trying to mislead the public on the use of RFID chips in ID cards and on the other, claiming ID cards as a 'child protection' measure.

Phil Booth, NO2ID's National Coordinator said: "Government desperation to force the Identity Cards Bill through at any cost is starting to show. Now, with utter contempt for logic or decency and in a transparent attempt to milk the scandal in the Department of Education for political advantage, they play the "paedo" card in the tabloids.

"Why should ID cards have any advantage over existing Criminal Records checks? It wouldn't affect those without records. As for making our children safer, this is contemptible spin from a government that is creating the Children's Act index - which will make details of the life of every child in the country available to tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of officials and IT staff."

Phil Booth, NO2ID's National Coordinator said: "Mr Burnham has only just recently denied the use of RFID chips in a

Parliamentary Question [4]. In fact, what they intend to do is far worse - the chips will broadcast actual personal details held on the card, not just a number. This technology will make the cards a snooper's paradise."