infinite ideas machine

Re-posted from archive of infinite ideas machine 2004: [LINKS UNCHECKED]

Computer Weekly reports the Institute for the Management of Information Systems’ response to the Home Office ID cards consultation in an article entitled, Biometric ID cards do little to cut fraud.

As one of, if not the leading international professional association devoted to the management of information systems within the business environment (representing 14,000 IT professionals) you’ve got to hope that Blunkett, Browne, Harrison, et al. will listen to IMIS.

They certainly don’t want to listen to members of the public!

Re-posted from archive of infinite ideas machine 2004: [LINKS UNCHECKED]

Just spent most of today picking up & delivering the new batch of NO2ID campaign T-shirts [order ’em here for now, online fulfillment imminent!] around London, one of a number of things I’m now doing as NO2ID’s recently-appointed finance and fundraising team leader.

We’re very busy organising and making people aware of the growing opposition to biometric ID cards and the National Identity Register, so apologies if I don’t post stuff here quite as regularly as I have been doing.

If you want to find out more about the NO2ID campaign, click on either of the T-shirts above.

If you wish to join our supporters’ mailing list (low traffic, but you get to hear about events and register your opposition) then click here to send an e-mail request or visit http://www.no2id.com/mailman/listinfo/no2id-supporters

If you actually feel motivated to do something (write letters, hold meetings, hand out leaflets, etc.) then click here to send an e-mail request or visit http://www.no2id.com/mailman/listinfo/no2id-activists to subscribe to the ‘activists’ list. Not as scary as it sounds… honest 🙂

Re-posted from archive of infinite ideas machine 2004: [LINKS UNCHECKED]

A belated reference to Mark Simpkins’ excellent consultationprocess blog, which has taken the Home Office’s consultation document [553 KB PDF file] on the proposed ID Card (and National Identity Register) legislation and MoveableTyped it.

Being able to comment on, link directly to paragraphs and use trackback introduces a whole new dimension to the document – and begs the question why the Government, if it is so interested in ‘consultation’ and enamoured of e-Everything, has not adopted this approach. It certainly can’t be the cost, if a private individual (with some help from a few friends) has been able to do it!

The deadline for responses is 20th July, so check it out online then send your feedback and comments to identitycards@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk, including the words ‘consultation response’ in the subject title. Or write to:

Robin Woodland
Legislation Consultation, Identity Cards Programme
Home Office
3rd Floor, Allington Towers
19 Allington Street
London SW1E 5EB

Re-posted from archive of infinite ideas machine 2004: [LINKS UNCHECKED]

The Guardian published this cool but disturbing little Flash gizmo a while back, that reveals which agencies hold what information on you – and who they share it with.

Clicking around reveals a few mildly interesting factoids: the Child Support Agency, for example, links to exactly as many other agencies (in the private, as well as the public sector) as the Police National computer – and both are linked to far more than the Passport office.

And who owns the most comprehensive name and address database in Europe?

Television Licensing Tracking! And they’re not even public sector…

Re-posted from archive of infinite ideas machine 2004: [LINKS UNCHECKED]

John Lettice in El Reg’s, MS, open source, The Facts and the fit-ups, describes (or more accurately, rips apart) one of Microsoft’s recent series of UK seminars intended “to help customers better understand the debate surrounding Microsoft and Open Source software”.

The spirit of “openness and honesty” (not) demonstrated by Microsoft seems vaguely reminiscent of… current Home Office behaviour. Simplistic arguments, ‘evidence’ skewed in your own favour and spin up the wazoo!

Microsoft’s re-telling of the Newham incident shows a degree of selectivity with the truth that must have even Blunkett reeling in admiration. Buy your way into a contract and then say that you ‘won’ it on the long term value (TCO) of your product? Pull the other one…

El Reg were able to infiltrate various people into the event(s), so they can at least report on precisely who said what. A boon completely denied to us, the citizens of the UK, despite Home Office protestations that they are ‘engaging’ with the public in an open consultation process – while, behind closed doors, the industry briefings carry on regardless.