Report - Guardian

The LSE Identity Project Report: June 2005 103discusses, there is now a well-documented lack of certainty in the application and use ofbiometrics. This has implications both for stolen identities and new forged identities.The Cabinet Office report is generally helpful and illustrates well, in abstract terms,what we mean by the term ‘identity fraud’ alongside some potential solutions. Thegovernment has, however, largely overlooked the useful distinctions made by theCabinet Office and continues to refer to identity fraud in vague terms. The Home Officeinsists on using the emotive term ‘identity theft’, failing to acknowledge that an identitycannot technically be stolen. Rather it is merely copied and used by a person who is notentitled to do so, which is a form of fraud. This illustrates the persistent confusion,perpetuated by the government, over what identity fraud really means.Similarly, individuals are most concerned by stories of the ‘theft’ of accounts, withbanking accounts being established in their name. However the Economist reports thatthis is the least common form of identity fraud because criminals are instead buying andaccessing existing accounts. 282One reason for obfuscating this definitional issue can be found in the government’sinsistence that £1.3 billion per year is lost because of the activity of identity fraudstersand that identity cards will substantially reduce this problem. According to the PrimeMinister’s Official Spokesman:“[Identity theft] was a growing crime which costs the economy at least £1.3billion per year. Criminals were recognising that identities were just as valuableas possessions. There was also the sheer inconvenience factor of having to spendup to 60 hours restoring your records of your identity was stolen.” 283The Home Office identity cards briefing 284 claims that:“An ID cards scheme will help the UK counter … identity theft – bygiving people a secure means of protecting their identity – a growingcrime which costs the economy at least £1.3bn pa.”The Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee states:“It is estimated that more than 100,000 people are affected by identitytheft in the UK each year, costing the British economy over £1.3billion annually.”Unlike the situation in the US, identity theft is a major plank of the Government’sargument in favour of introducing ID cards, due to the quantitative findings of theCabinet Office report of 2002. Unfortunately, the report does not carry through therigour demonstrated in its original definitions into its quantitative findings, which sufferfrom some weaknesses. 285 Below we will examine what activities were counted as282 ‘Your money and your life’, the Economist, June 2, 2005.283 Morning press briefing 1100 BST from 25 May 2005 http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7548.asp284 Home Office Identity Cards Briefing, May 2005 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs4/Id_Cards_Briefing.pdf285 ‘Your money and your life’, the Economist, June 2, 2005.