National ID Cards
The idea of national ID cards poses a number of contradictions, and as such it can make people be both pro or against it. For some it is a way of fighting crime and terrorism, while for others it is a way of invading one's privacy and civil liberties. Perhaps in some way both parties are right, so maybe the question we should ask ourselves is whether we should let our privacy be invaded in some way, in order to serve a greater good. If things can go a little bit better, is that worth the while? Personally I think that national ID cards don't pose a threat any more than the older systems of computerized evidence of the population did, and maybe they can even make some good, so I for one am not against them.The national ID card differs from other forms of identification because not only it is nationwide, so there is a centralized database for the whole country, but also because of the new technological improvements, like a chip that carries personal information such as fingerprints, retinal scan or DNA profile. "the legislation, called the Real ID Act, gives unfettered authority to the Department of Homeland Security to design state ID cards and driver's licenses. Among the possibilities: biometric information such as retinal scan
) There is a danger that in the current climate in which people feel genuinely concerned about their safety, the government could implement a series of measures which will have no real effect in combating terrorism, but which will seriously undermine freedom here in the UK. And fingerprints differ from photographs only in that they are harder to fake. Civil liberties groups tend to worry about the administrative problems, the opportunities for criminal mischief, and the potential irreversibility of such a system. While strong opposition surfaced against making the cards mandatory, the government maintains national ID cards will strngthten national security, reduce benefits fraud and enhance immigration controls. "10 Another strong point against the new ID cards is that in fact they will provide nothing good, and in fact they will be just as effective or inefficient as the systems already in place in the fight against terrorism or immigration and domestic crime. )There is, however, ample evidence that compulsory ID cards - and the police stop and detention powers that must inevitably accompany them - can do real damage within communities. But its critics have raised questions about how the technology could be misused by identity thieves with RFID readers, and they say it would "promote irresponsible national behavior. Many European, Asian and South American countries require their citizens to carry such documents at all times, with legal punishments in place for people caught without them. One of the ideas that oposes the introduction of these ID cards is that while it might do a lot of good, this system might as well do just as much damage, its greatest strength being also its greatest weekness. "we already require photo ID's for many activities, including flying, driving, drinking and check-cashing. "12I can only conclude that there are strong points to be made on either side of the matter, and that this is no easy choice to be made, be it from an individual or from a government. government should improve the usefulness and security of existing forms of identification -- namely Social Security numbers and driver's licenses -- to also serve the function of verifying that people are who they say they are.
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Acceptance Essays
