Report - Guardian

The LSE Identity Project Report: June 2005 16913BiometricsProsecutions for dealing with or creating false ID cards and high-level identitydocuments have been pursued in many countries, including Britain, 411 Hong Kong, 412Pakistan, 413 Ireland, 414 Malaysia, 415 Yemen, 416 Czech Republic, 417 Venezuela, 418India, 419 Italy, 420 and Sri Lanka 421 where the forgeries were supplied to suicide bombers.This year the Israeli government estimated that “hundreds of thousands” of fake IDcards are in the hands of its population. 422In many cases the false identity was secured merely by bribing an official or byproviding counterfeit documentation at the point of registration. The governmentproposes to eliminate this risk by establishing a “clean” database of identities. Entryonto the database will require multiple biometric captures, biographical footprintchecking and a range of primary documentation. The Home Office has explained thatthe database will contain no multiple identities because a “one to many” check will beused before a person is enrolled.Faith in the Perfectibility of TechnologyA biometric is a measure of identity based on a body part or behaviour of an individual.The most well known biometrics are fingerprints, iris scans, facial images, DNA andsignatures. The position taken by the UK government is that some biometrics areextremely secure and reliable forms of ID, and it has promoted the use of fingerprints411 ‘Passport scam uncovered’, BBC News Online, December 3, 1999, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/548559.stm.412 ‘Six months' jail for forged ID cards’, The Standard, November 11, 2004,http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail_frame.cfm?articleid=52102&intcatid=42413 ‘No passports for old NIC holders: Faisal’, The News international, Pakistan,http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2003-daily/29-10-2003/main/main13.htm.414 Parliament of Ireland, April 1, 2003, http://www.irlgov.ie/debates-03/1Apr/Sect10.htm.415 http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/MM/Friday/National/20041210100244/Article/index_html416 ‘Yemen confirms Cole suspects' trial’, BBC News Online, December 6, 2000,http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1058085.stm.417 Ministry for the Interior of the Czech Republic, Report on the Security Situation in the Czech Republic in 2000,http://www.mvcr.cz/dokumenty/bezp_si00/angl/crime2.html.418 ‘Some thoughts on identification’, Asuntos Legales, http://www.analitica.com/archivo/vam1996.06/asleg1us.htm.419 ‘Hill Kaka - A military or a political failure’, Kashmir Sentinel,http://www.kashmirsentinel.com/june2003/18.html420 ‘Italian police uncover massive Red Brigades weapons cache’, China Daily, December 21, 2001,http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/21/content_292183.htm.421 ‘Anticipatory bail application of former Dept. of Registration of persons Commissioner refused’, SarathMalalasekera, Daily News, August 10, 2004, http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/08/10/new24.html.422 ‘Sheetrit promises new smart ID card tender before 2005’, Globes online, September 7, 2004,http://www.globes.co.il/DocsEn/did=834696.htm.