NO2ID Newsletter RSS http://www.no2id.net/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:59:26 +0100 Newsletters of NO2ID - the UK Campagin against ID Cards and the Database State NO2ID Newsletter 104 http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=104 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:01 GMT ++ NO2ID AT THE PARTY CONFERENCES ++

 

Once again NO2ID will be holding fringe meetings at the party conferences taking place this year, which will take place in September/October.  We will be holding a TUC fringe meeting in Brighton on Monday 8th September at the Brighthelm Centre, chaired by our Union Liaison Christina Zaba. We have a presence at the Green conference and our General Secretary, Guy Herbert, will be speaking at fringe meetings at the Liberal Democrat and UKIP conferences, both in Bournemouth. At the Conservative conference in Birmingham we have a stall (highly prized, now the Conservatives are widely seen as winners by lobbyists) on the Home Affairs day, and we will be at the Labour conference in Manchester.

Volunteers for all these events are needed. If you are available to help at one or other English Party conference please contact office@no2id.net or the relevant NO2ID local group. If you can help at Scottish Party conferences please contact NO2ID Scotland (scotland@no2id.net), and we would be delighted to hear from people involved in Welsh or Irish politics (particularly the latter where our contacts need developing) - email (office@no2id.net).

Conference details:

Green: 5th - 8th September, School of Oriental and African Studies, London
UKIP: 5th - 6th September, Bournemouth International Centre
TUC Congress: 8th - 11th September, Brighton Centre
Plaid Cymru: 11th - 13th September, Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
Liberal Democrats: 13th - 17th September, Bournemouth International Centre
SNP: 16th - 19th September, Perth Concert Hall
Labour: 20th - 24th September, Manchester Central (formerly GMEX)
Conservatives: 28th September - 1st October, Birmingham International Convention Centre

What's next? 

 

+ 14th August - NO2ID London Social +
We will be having another NO2ID social on Thursday 14th August 2008 from 6.30pm.
It will be at The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, WC1H 1BH (please note, it's not at The Crown but The *Old* Crown). Meet the organisers, ask questions, get involved, have a pint. Everyone is welcome whether a member, supporter, sympathiser or even Home Office minister.
Enquires to Harry Metcalf: london@no2id.net

+ Consultation on Data Retention Directive +
The government has launched a consultation on the Electronic Communications Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations. Responses should be sent by 31st October by e-mail to commsdata@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Andrew Knight, Home Office, 5th Floor, Peel Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
See http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2008-transposition?view=Binary

+ 8th September — NO2ID at TUC Congress +
Monday, 8th September at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1YD. NO2ID will be holding a fringe meeting to discuss the imminent impact of the ID scheme and what can be done about it. Chair: Christina Zaba, NO2ID Union Liaison. Speakers: TBC. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

We now have local groups in 44 of the 69 proposed locations for interrogation centres - of which just 3 have yet to open. Parliamentary answers indicate that the most active centres are: Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Peterborough and Sheffield.

For information on your nearest interrogation centre, see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php. If you can help set up a local group in one of the remaining locations, or anywhere else in the UK, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net

+ Bradford +

+ 10th September - Bradford NO2ID Meeting (2nd Wednesday of the month) +
Every second Wednesday of the month 6:30pm at Bradford Resource Centre, 17-21 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5DT.

+ Brighton +
 
+ 16th August - Brighton NO2ID at The Brunswick Festival +
Saturday, 16th August 11am to 6pm Brighton NO2ID are having a stall at The Brunswick Festival, Brunswick Square, Hove.  The festival includes live bands, a variety of stalls, including food stalls and a beer tent and is free!

+ Cambridge +

+ 23rd August - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 23rd August at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.

+ 3rd - September NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month) +
Wednesday, 3rd September 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw). For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

+ Dorking +

Meetings every first Tuesday at the Lincoln Arms by Dorking mainline station, 7.30pm all welcome.  Next events – street stalls in Guildford and Dorking.

+ 25th September - “Are your privacy and freedom under threat?” Debate +
Thursday, 25th September 8.00pm  at The Christian Centre, St Martin’s Church, Dorking, with Sir Paul Beresford MP, Edgar Whitely (LSE) and surprise guest.

+ Dover +

+ 30th August - NO2ID Dover Street Stall +
Saturday, 30th August, from approx. 10am for at least a couple of hours (weather permitting) at the top of Biggin Street precinct (by Prince Albert pub)/in front of war memorial and Town Council office, near Town Hall.  As much help from supporters as possible welcome.

+ 30th August - NO2ID Gig Night (Live Music and NO2ID information) +
Saturday, 30th August at The Whole Earth Café, The Old High Street, Folkestone. The café will be open to the public with food and drink on sale. Help from supporters welcome. The lead act band will be “The Mercurials”.

+ Edinburgh +

Edinburgh Festival play about ID cards
Kali Theatre will be performing 'Another Paradise' at Venue 112 (clubWest, Nicolson Street) until 25th August. The play is set in Leamington Spa "at a time when Identity Cards are compulsory and people are validated only by their digital ID in the National Identity Database". Described as "a witty and satirical look at a highly controversial government policy that will soon have a deep and far reaching effect on our everyday lives". Booking info at: (http://www.edfringe.com/shows/detail.php? action=shows&id=716).  According to Edinburgh NO2ID coordinator, John Welford:  "This is  a brilliant show - well informed about ID card issues, lively acted  and well produced.  Definitely not to be missed!"

Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel.  Do drop by for a chat.  New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

+ Epsom +

+ 20th August - Epsom NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 20th August at the Assembly Rooms (Weatherspoons) High Street, Epsom at 7.30pm. The second meeting of Epsom, all welcome, bring a friend.  In early September we will hold an Epsom street stall to raise awareness and get new members.

+ Glasgow +

Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow street stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net

+ Leicester +

+ 30th August - Leicester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 30th August from 1pm by the Clock Tower at Gallow Tree Gate. Anyone able to help out should email Jon or Avtar on (leicster@no2id.net). If you're not able to attend but are interested in the work of Leicester NO2ID, please join the mailing list at: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.leicester

+ Leeds +

+ 16th August - Leeds NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 16th August on Briggate from 1-3pm. If you fancy comming along to lend a hand contact leeds@no2id.net
 
+ 21st August - Leeds NO2ID Planning Meeting +
Thursday, 21st August from 7-9pm at the Peanut Social Centre on University of Leeds Campus. Contact leeds@no2id.net for further details

+ Maidstone +

+ 21st August - Maidstone NO2ID Inaugural Meeting +
Thursday, 21st August 6.30pm at Muggleton Inn, 8-9 High Street, Maidstone, ME14 1HJ. All welcome. Please bring a friend. Further details: Adrienne Margolis on (maidstone@no2id.net). If you're unable to attend but are interested in the activity of the group please join the Maidstone mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.maidstone

+ Manchester +

+ 13th September - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 13th September 2pm-4pm in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register.

+ Mold +

+ 8th September - 1st NO2ID Mold Meeting (1st Monday of every month after that)+
Monday, 8th September at Y Delyn Wine Bar, King Street, Mold, CH7 1LA. Contact Sophie McKeand on mold@no2id.net or join the mailing list at: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.mold

+ Southampton +

+ 16th August - Southampton NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday 16th August - street stall outside Waitrose, Portswood Road, Southampton, from about 1.30am-2.30pm. If you would like to help out on the stall, please contact Michael, runninginthedark@gmail.com.

+ 3rd September - Southampton NO2ID Meeting (1st Wednesday of the month) +
Wednesday 3rd September 8pm at the Dolphin pub, Osborne Road South, Southampton (next to St Denys train station). Southampton NO2ID's monthly meeting. All are welcome.

+ Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells+

Stalls continue apace in both Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells. If you are interested in being involved then email and let us know - it's good fun and you get to know the arguments extremely well!

+ 16th October - Database State debate +
Thursday, 16th October at The Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells, where students of Skinners and also of neighbouring school TWGGS will debate and call witnesses. Meg Hillier's secretaries are still unsure after much correspondence as to whether she will be able to make it or not. Will she, won't she, will she, won't she defend government policy in an open public debate given that her diary is still not fixed for that evening? We are most grateful to Daniel Zeichner and Phil Booth for kindly agreeing to argue their cases. The level of debate in these schools excels - it should be fun - put it in your diary!

+ Watford +

+ 2nd September - Watford NO2ID 1st Meeting +
Tuesday, 2nd September 7.15pm at the Estcourt Tavern pub, Estcourt Rd, WD1 2PY (parallel to Clarendon Rd, just up from Watford Junction rail station). Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. Please bring a friend. For further details feel free to contact Emma Simmons on (watford@no2id.net). If you're unable to attend, but are interested in the activity of the group, please join the local mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.watford

What just happened?

+ E-Passports Cracked Again +

Back in 2006 NO2ID worked with security expert Adam Laurie to demonstrate insecurities in the new ‘ePassport’ that has been issued by the UK Identity and Passport Service since then. The passport contains a chip which holds information about the passport holder. Laurie was able to read data from an e-passport without even taking it out of the envelope it was delivered in. Now a Dutch hacker, Jeroen van Beek, has shown that it is possible to create a fake chip, which could then be put it in a legitimate passport. Last month 3,000 blank e-passports were stolen from the back of a van. The e-passport is a worldwide standard created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after pressure from the United States in 2001. Since their introduction the chipped passports have been the subject of much controversy. The new passports were introduced in the UK under royal prerogative (without the need of consultation, debate or legislation). If the government want the UK ID card to act as a "passport lite" then they will put the same chip into the cards. The Identity and Passport service have also talked about storing fingerprints on the chip - claiming that it is necessary to comply with Europe and/or International Standards. As we have reported previously fingerprints are not part of any standard with which the government must comply.

+ Government responds to 'A Surveillance Society?' report +

The government has released its response to the Home Affairs Committee's 'A surveillance society?' inquiry which produced its report in June (see NO2ID Newsletter 100). On their widespread data-sharing agenda the government says that there are safeguards in the Data Protection Act and: "As this has already been debated in Parliament, we do not feel that a Parliamentary debate is required every time these principles are applied to a new Government proposal". On Biometrics linked to the National Identity Register the response says: "Biometric information will be encrypted from the moment it is enrolled right through to the Register" - this is an interesting claim in light of the cracking of the e-passport. Meanwhile the response tries to allay fears about ContactPoint, the database that will hold details of every child in England, by saying that it will "be like a computer based phone book".
Read the response at: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm74/7449/7449.pdf

+ New novel looks as the Database State +

Bestselling author Jeffery Deaver has written a new novel that takes a look at the ever growing Database State. In 'The Broken Window' Deaver uses the threat of government databases as the main basis for the book. Deaver even ends the novel with some notes to assist readers in making contact with anti-ID organisations, and recommends 'No Place to Hide', by Robert O'Harrow Jr (See www.noplacetohide.net). Deaver is best known for his Lincoln Rhyme novels (one of which was turned into the film 'The Bone Collector' starring Denzel Washington). Hopefully the book will help to make a larger audience aware of the some of the issues we are campaigning against.

"ID" in the news

 

+ Government publishes new, wider Data Retention Regulations - Out-Law 14/8/08 +
The Government has published a draft law that mandates the retention of data by internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies. The proposed Regulations will replace an earlier law that applied to non-internet data only.
http://www.out-law.com/page-9350

+ Spy fear over e-mail check planA computer keyboard - BBC News Online 13/8/08 +
Plans to give local councils and other public bodies the power to monitor e-mail and internet traffic have been branded a "snoopers' charter".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7557963.stm

+ Health bodies could access communication logs - e-Health Insider 13/8/08 +
Public bodies, including health authorities, could be able to access information about all personal calls and internet use under proposals from the Home Office.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/4055/health_bodies_could_access_communication_logs

+ Irish bus pass is ‘identity card by stealth’ - The Times 10/8/08 +
The new travel pass could evolve to let the state watch our every move. In Ireland, the “soft” introduction of the public services card has caused barely a stir.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article4493788.ece

+ Scots schoolchildren to be fingerprinted in controversial ID scheme - Glasgow Sunday Mail 10/8/08 +
More than 8000 pupils are to have their fingerprints taken so they can be tracked by teachers. Controversial biometric fingerprinting will be introduced to eight secondary schools in the biggest experiment of its type in Scotland.  But parents yesterday attacked the scheme, saying there are few controls over who can access the fingerprint database.
http://tinyurl.com/6qwcqx

+ E-Passports Signed, Sealed, Delivered -- But Not Like You May Think - Wired 8/8/08 +
Two years ago security researcher Lukas Grunwald showed how the chips in new electronic passports could easily be cloned. Grunwald's attack, however, was limited in that he hadn't found a way to alter data on the tag in a manner that could not be detected. Data on passport chips is hashed and digitally signed by the issuing country. Changing data on the passport chip would change the hash, indicating that the chip had been manipulated and thus invalidating it.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/e-passports-cra.html

+ Passports: This isn’t supposed to happen: how a baby became bin Laden - The Times 6/8/08 +
Jeroen van Beek takes the passport of a 16-month-old British boy and puts it on to a £40 smartcard reader the size of an iPod. He punches a code into his computer and, within seconds, the information contained in the passport’s microchip appears on screen.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4467098.ece

+ Big problems hit Royal Free's Cerner care records roll-out - ComputerWeekly 5/8/08 +
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, whose staff treat 500,000 patients a year from around the world, has run into "significant" problems including system crashes, delays booking patient appointments and data missing in records. 
http://tinyurl.com/5ryp39

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )  

]]> http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=104 NO2ID Newsletter 103 http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=103 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:01 GMT ++ ALL CHARGES AGAINST NO2ID PROTESTORS DROPPED ++ 

Last week the Procurator Fiscal (Scottish public prosecutor) dropped all charges against the nine NO2ID campaigners who were arrested in Edinburgh at the end of June. The nine were arrested after they staged a peaceful protest at an invitation only Home Office so-called "public consultation" and were due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff's Court on 24th July; but just hours before the hearing the case was closed and all charges were dropped.

The campaigners would like to thank everyone who sent messages of good will and money to support their legal defence. Leftover funds will be used to help NO2ID continue to campaign against the national identity scheme.

 

+ GOVERNMENT MAKE CLAIM OF UNION BACKING FOR ID CARDS +

 

The government claimed this week that "the unions have backed ID cards". The declaration came after Labour’s National Policy Forum held at the University of Warwick. However we'd like to know precisely what that "backing" consists of.

Several large unions have been very sceptical in the past, some are actually affiliated to NO2ID and a few of the others have previously shown an interest in affiliation. Last week members of the Public and Commercial Service Union staged strikes at passport offices around the country, blaming ID cards software for passport service job cuts. Whilst unions representing airline workers have expressed their opposition to issuing ID cards to airport workers next year. So what is this so called backing?

If you are a union members perhaps you can ask your union if they were consulted and if not why not?

The TUC conference will take place in Brighton 8th - 11th September at the Brighton Centre and we intend to have a NO2ID presence there. Our Union Liaison, Christina Zaba (union.liaison@no2id.net) has written a piece in the current edition of Modern Government highlighting the fact that the Identity Cards Act 2006 introduces sentences of up to 10 years for taking industrial action affecting the register. If you can help us at the TUC conference or you have further information from your union on the "backing" then please contact Christina at union.liaison@no2id.net

What's next? 

 

+ 1st August - 'Dorothy Night' exploring Identity - Royal Festival Hall +
Friday, 1st August 10pm at the Royal Festival Hall (Clore Ballroom), free admission. A collaboration between Nathan Evans and David Hoyle as part of a series of 'Dorothy Nights' to accompany the main house production of The Wizard Of Oz. Amongst other things it will involve an Emerald City which - in a distortion of gatekeeper scenes of the film - is only enterable with ID cards. Punters can choose to print a card with a 'faceless bureaucrat' to enter the main auditorium past the armed guard, stay on the peripheries or infiltrate the city 'illegally'. We will, of course, be encouraging them to destroy these cards later in the show and perhaps even sign the NO2ID pledge.

+ 14th August - NO2ID London Social +
We will be having another NO2ID social on Thursday 14th August 2008 from 6.30pm.
It will be at The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, WC1H 1BH. (please note, it's not at The Crown but The *Old* Crown). Meet the organisers, ask questions, get involved, have a pint. Everyone is welcome whether a member, supporter, sympathiser or even Home Office minister.
Enquires to Harry Metcalf: london@no2id.net

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

We now have local groups in 44 of the 69 proposed locations for interrogation centres - of which just 3 have yet to open. Parliamentary answers indicate that the most active centres are: Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Peterborough and Sheffield.

For information on your nearest interrogation centre, see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php. If you can help set up a local group in one of the remaining locations, or anywhere else in the UK, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net

+ Bradford +

+ 13th August - Bradford NO2ID Meeting (2nd Wednesday of the month) +
Every second Wednesday of the month 6:30pm at Bradford Resource Centre, 17-21 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5DT.

+ Bristol +

+ 6th August - Bristol NO2ID meeting +
Wednesday, 6th August 7-8pm at White Bear on St Michael's Hill. Come and meet your friendly local campaigners. If you'd like to keep up to date with what the Bristol group is getting up to, please join the mailing list at http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.bristol

+ Cambridge +

+ 2nd August - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 2nd August at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.

+ 6th August - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month) +
Wednesday, 6th August 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw). For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

+ Camden & Islington +

+ 3rd August - Camden and Islington NO2ID Stall +
Sunday, 3rd August 10am-2pm at Islington Farmers Market. Contact Matty on camden@no2id.net if you can attend.

+ 4th August - Camden and Islington NO2ID Meeting +
Monday, 4th August at 8pm. We'll be at our new(ish) venue, The Castle, 54 Pentonville Road, London. We'll try and sit at the big table on the top level at the back of the pub - if not just look for the table with the NO2ID flyers. Nearest tube is either Angel or Kings Cross. (http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-2471.php)

+ Dorking +

+ 5th August - Dorking NO2ID Meeting (1st Tuesday of month) +
Tuesday, 5th August 7.30pm at the Lincoln Arms by Dorking mainline station. Street stalls, a public meeting and a local council motion against ID are all ongoing.  New members are always welcome.

+ 25th September - Question Time on ID Cards and the Database State +
We have 2 guest speakers to put the case against ID Cards at our Sept 25th public meeting (Paul Beresford MP and Dr Edgar Whitley of the LSE), but still none to put the case against. 

+ Edinburgh +

Edinburgh Festival play about ID cards
Kali Theatre will be performing 'Another Paradise' at Venue 112 (clubWest, Nicolson Street) from 3rd-25th August. The play is set in Leamington Spa "at a time when Identity Cards are compulsory and people are validated only by their digital ID in the National Identity Database". Described as "a witty and satirical look at a highly controversial government policy that will soon have a deep and far reaching effect on our everyday lives".
More info at http://www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whatson/Another_Paradise.htm

Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel.  Do drop by for a chat.  New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

+ Epsom +

+ 20th August - Epsom NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 20th August 7.30pm at the Assembly Rooms (Weatherspoons) High Street, Epsom to discuss finding a group coordinator and to fix a date for a street stall in early September.

+ Glasgow +

+ 5th August - Glasgow NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 5th August at 8pm in Mono. All welcome.

Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow street stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net

+ Hackney +

6th August - Hackney NO2ID Meeting
Wednesday, 6th August 7pm at The Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Road, London, E8 1JH. If you'd like to keep up to date with what the Hackney group is getting up to, please join the mailing list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hackney-and-shoreditch

+ Manchester +

Manchester NO2ID sponsored the "Freed Up" poetry night at the Green Room, which led to a fantastic evening of poems on the theme of Identity. Video from the event should be available soon.
http://manchester.no2id.net/content/freed-poetry-night-manchester

+ 9th August - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 9th August 1pm-5pm in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. This month, we're going to try splitting into two shifts - a 1-3pm "early" shift and a 3-5pm "late" shift, to get more presence and coverage through the day. Pick a shift you're likely to make and if we can get at least four volunteers for each shift we'll make a whole day of it! Simply enter your name (or a pseudonym) and choose a shift at: http://www.doodle.ch/vgurr73b5in6mvdh

+ 13th August - Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +
Wednesday,  13th August, 7pm-9pm in the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly, this venue is not wheelchair-accessible; please contact us on manchester@no2id.net if you have accessibility needs. This month, due to a double booking, we will be meeting in side area just off the main bar rather than in our usual function room. See minutes of our previous meetings at http://manchester.no2id.net/taxonomy/term/5

+ Oxford +

+ 2nd August - NO2ID Oxford Street Stall +
Saturday, 2nd August from around 12 noon for a couple of hours, on Cornmarket, Oxford. As usual, helpers are very welcome.  All you need to do is hand out a few leaflets and direct people to sign our petition.  You don't need to tell us you are coming, but it helps with planning. For more, contact Jim (gadjie at gmail.com) who is coordinating this.

+ 7th August - NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 7th August (back on the first Thursday of the month) 8pm at the Mitre on the High Street to discuss the next steps in our campaign.

+ Southampton +

+ 6th August - Southampton NO2ID Meeting  (1st Wednesday of the month) +
Wednesday, 6th August 8pm at the Dolphin pub, Osbourne Road South, Southampton (next to St Denys train station). All are welcome.

+ Thanet +

+ 2nd August - Thanet NO2ID Meeting +
Saturday, 2nd August 4.00pm at Morelli's Capuccino cafe, 14 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs. Totally informal get together. We are a small group, so new faces welcome. this is a chance to chat and swap notes. Details on the blog: http://thanet-no2id.blogspot.com/ . All future meetings will be be listed under "Upcoming meeting" on the side bar. 

What just happened?

+ Human Genetics Commission calls for innocent to be removed from DNA Database +

The Human Genetics Commission has published a report of their "Citizens’ Inquiry into the Forensic Use of DNA and the National DNA Database (NDAD)". The report lays out 29 core recommendations, the first of which is the "need for a nationwide public awareness campaign about the NDNAD that will reach all sections of the population". The inquiry felt that there "should be an independent body with broad membership, constituted by statue specifically to oversee the NDNAD". The majority of participants also concluded "that there should be harmonisation between approaches in Scotland, and England and Wales, and that the Scottish approach should be favoured". In Scotland innocent people are taken off the database and they do not record ethnicity.
The report can de downloaded at: http://www.hgc.gov.uk/Client/document.asp?DocId=158&CAtegoryId=8

+ Information Commissioner releases Annual Report +

The Information Commissioner's annual report has been published, which looks back at data protection and freedom of information issues over the last year. In relation to proposals by the government to construct a database holding the details of the telephone and internet communications of the entire population the report says: "Any such scheme would require the fullest public debate to establish whether, whatever the benefits, it amounted to excessive surveillance as a step too far for the British way of life".
The report can be downloaded at: www.ico.gov.uk/Home/about_us/what_we_do/corporate_information/annual_reports.aspx

+ Song speaks out against loss of liberties in UK +

A song lamenting the loss of privacy and the loss of liberty in Britain today has been written by singer/songwriter James Neilson Graham. The song is entitled 'Oh What a Liberty!' and uses satire to address issues such as CCTV and ID cards. James tells us that the song (which is copyright) is in line to be revised and re-cast.
Listen to the track online at: http://www.esnips.com/doc/3e9505db-1ffd-46e6-a33e-ea3654cad92d/01-Track-1

+ We’re not fundamentalists - personal information deserves respect +

NO2ID's Guy Herbert writes in The Guardian, responding to an article arguing that the state has an automatic right to our personal information:
http://www.no2id.net/newsblog/?p=909

"ID" in the news

 

+ Implied consent set to be scrapped for SCR - e-Health Insider 30/7/08 +
The implied consent model for the Summary Care Record (SCR) looks set to be scrapped in favour of a simpler consent model following a recommendation from Connecting for Health’s advisory group.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/4012/implied_consent_set_to_be_scrapped_for_scr

+ Hungarian Roma MEP defends Italian fingerprinting idea - Politics.Hu 30/7/08 +
Livia Jaroka, a Hungarian MEP of Roma origin, defended the Italian government's decision to fingerprint the Roma residing in illegal camps in Italy. In her view, the fingerprinting will enable Italian authorities to provide immigrants, including children, with personal identification documents.
http://www.politics.hu/20080730/hungarian-roma-mep-defends-italian-fingerprinting-idea

+ Britain tightens visa rules for foreign students - The Economic Times 30/7/08 +
Britain on Wednesday unveiled stricter visa rules under which students from India and other non-European countries will require to provide their fingerprints and prove that they have money to support themselves.
http://tinyurl.com/5zbtcf

+ Blank robbers swipe 3,000 'fraud-proof' UK passports - The Register 29/7/08 +
A consignment of 3,000 "useless" blank biometric passports has been stolen on its way to British embassies throughout the world. Or at least, the Identity & Passport Service says they're useless. IPS' claim is based on the standard, highly optimistic party line that, as the passports contain a chip, they can't be used to produce fake passports.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/29/biometric_passport_heist/

+ Checks between North and rest of UK on way - Irish Times 28/7/08 +
People travelling between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom will be subjected to stiffer identity checks before the end of the year, British officials have told the Government.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0728/1217013340820.html

+ All air passengers to give their fingerprints … but is the reason security or simply to raise profits for the duty-free shops? - Daily Mail 27/7/08 +
Millions of passengers flying from British airports will be fingerprinted from next year under the latest controversial Government anti-terror plans. The measures, which will apply to both domestic and international passengers, are being introduced despite opposition from the Information Commissioner, Britain’s privacy watchdog.
http://tinyurl.com/56trzl

+ UK identity card shenanigans upheld - The Inquirer 25/7/08 +
An attempt to force the government to publish the feasibility studies for its infamous Identity Card Scheme has been swatted down by the High Court. The Court upheld government appeals against a decision by the Information Tribunal last year that the feasibility studies should be published.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/24/id-card-shenanigans

+ ID cards software 'to blame for passport service job cuts' - ComputerWorldUK 23/7/08 +
The union representing passport service workers has slammed the planned roll out of automated passport and ID cards processing as it has lead to job cut plans at the Identity and Passport Service agency.
http://tinyurl.com/66e6su

+ Details of Oyster card hack to be made public - The Times 21/7/08 +
Details of a computer hack which allowed researchers to clone identity cards that are used by million of people to access buildings and travel on public transport are to be published.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4373717.ece

+ Unions line up against airline ID cards - The Register 21/7/08 +
Unions representing airline and airport staff are to tell Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that her plan to force staff to carry ID cards will add nothing to airport security.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/21/airport_id_cards/

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )  

]]> http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=103 NO2ID Newsletter 102 http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=102 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:01 GMT ++ TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE DATABASE STATE ++ Over the last few weeks the Database State has been a topic of discussion on radio talk shows and in newspaper editorials, thanks in large part to the resignation and re-election of David Davis MP. But just one day after Davis' victory a review of data sharing was published that ignored the Database State and encouraged the government to remove legal barriers to data sharing. Clearly we still have a lot to do.

On the plus side, a growing number of people are beginning to realise that the only way to stop abuse of your confidential information is not to give it to the authorities in the first place. If enough people say *now*, "No, I will not cooperate", then the ID system simply cannot be implemented.

The NO2ID Pledge is a way of publicly declaring that you will not cooperate with the government seizure of personal identity. To make the pledge simply sign a pledge form and get the signature of a witness. Then display the pledge form somewhere that other people can see it - hopefully this will encourage friends and family to ask about the pledge and you can then encourage them to take the pledge too.

If you haven't done so already and you want to resist, please make the NO2ID Pledge - NO2ID Pledge certificates and instructions can be downloaded from www.no2id.net/pledge

The NO2ID Pledge is perfectly legal, but it is as revolutionary in implication as the ID scheme itself. If we all say no, then the ID scheme will fail.

What's next?


+ Appeal for defence funds - NO2ID Scotland campaigners to appear in court +
Nine NO2ID campaigners arrested after they staged a peaceful protest at an invitation only Home Office so-called "public consultation" will appear before Edinburgh Sheriff's Court on 24th July. All nine have been charged with breach of the peace, eight with causing "alarm and distress" and one with causing "alarm and disturbance". If anyone would like to contribute to legal costs, cheques made payable to "Glasgow NO2ID" (together with an indication of the intended purpose) would be gratefully received at 3e Grovepark Gardens, Glasgow G20 7JB. Any surplus after the cases have all concluded will be used for NO2ID's general campaigning.

+ 18th - 20th July - Volunteers needed - NO2ID at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival +
Friday 18th - Sunday 20th July, Tolpuddle, Dorset. NO2ID will be hosting a stall at Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and we need some more volunteers to help run the stall. Please contact Christina Zaba on union.liaison@no2id.net if you'd like to help. (See http://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-14521-f0.cfm for more info on the festival).

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

We now have local groups in 44 of the 69 proposed locations for interrogation centres - of which just 3 have yet to open. Parliamentary answers indicate that the most active centres are: Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Peterborough and Sheffield.

For information on your nearest interrogation centre, see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php. If you can help set up a local group in one of the remaining locations, or anywhere else in the UK, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net

+ Bristol +

+ 6th August - Bristol NO2ID meeting +
Wednesday, 6th August 7-8pm at White Bear on St Michael's Hill. Come and meet your friendly local campaigners. If you'd like to keep up to date with what the Bristol group is getting up to, please join the mailing list at http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.bristol

+ Cambridge +

+ 2nd August - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 2nd August at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.

+ 6th August - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month) +
Wednesday, 6th August 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw). For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

+ Camden & Islington +

+ 3rd August - Camden and Islington NO2ID Stall +
Sunday, 3rd August 10am-2pm at Islington Farmers Market. Contact Matty on camden@no2id.net if you can attend.

+ 4th August - Camden and Islington NO2ID Meeting +
Monday, 4th August at 8pm. We'll be at our new(ish) venue, The Castle, 54 Pentonville Road, London. We'll try and sit at the big table on the top level at the back of the pub - if not just look for the table with the NO2ID flyers. Nearest tube is either Angel or Kings Cross. (http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-2471.php)

+ Cardiff + -

Cardiff NO2ID Benefit Gig a Great Success
We had an absurdly good benefit gig on the evening of the 11th July - many good bands and everybody had a good time. We just about managed to break even and scored two interviews on local radio about it. Thanks to everybody who came, and those who couldn't but were with us in spirit.

+ Dorking +

Monthly meetings at 7.30pm every first Tuesday of the month at The Lincoln by Dorking main line station.  Next 2 street stalls will be in Horsham, then back to Dorking.  Anyone from Dorking or surrounding towns interested in helping out is very welcome.  Please come along or email (dorking@no2id.net). First steps have been taken in getting a political consensus to pass a local motion against ID.

+ 25th September - Question Time on ID Cards and the Database State +
We have 2 guest speakers to put the case against ID Cards at our Sept 25th public meeting (Paul Beresford MP and Dr Edgar Whitley of the LSE), but still none to put the case against. 

+ Edinburgh +

Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel.  Do drop by for a chat.  New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

+ Epsom +

+ 24th July - Epsom NO2ID 1st Meeting  +
Thursday, 24th July 7.30pm at Cricketers Pub, Stamford Green Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7SR. All welcome. Please bring a friend. Further details: Geoff Cox on (epsom@no2id.net). If you're unable to attend, but are interested in the activity of the group, please join the Epsom mailing list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.epsom

+ Glasgow +

Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow street stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net

+ Hackney +

6th August - Hackney NO2ID Meeting
Wednesday, 6th August 7pm at The Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Road, London, E8 1JH. If you'd like to keep up to date with what the Hackney group is getting up to, please join the mailing list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hackney-and-shoreditch

+ Manchester +

Manchester NO2ID co-ordinator Dave Page recently appeared on Liverpool's City Talk 105.9FM on the 105th anniversary of George Orwell's birthday to discuss his vision of the future in "Nineteen Eighty-Four". An MP3 of the interview will be made available soon. See http://manchester.no2id.net/content/appearance-city-talk-1059fm-liverpool

+ 9th August - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 9th August 1pm-5pm in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. This month, we're going to try splitting into two shifts - a 1-3pm "early" shift and a 3-5pm "late" shift, to get more presence and coverage through the day. Pick a shift you're likely to make and if we can get at least four volunteers for each shift we'll make a whole day of it! Simply enter your name (or a pseudonym) and choose a shift at: http://www.doodle.ch/vgurr73b5in6mvdh

+ 13th August - Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +
Wednesday,  13th August, 7pm-9pm in the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly, this venue is not wheelchair-accessible; please contact us on manchester@no2id.net if you have accessibility needs. This month, due to a double booking, we will be meeting in side area just off the main bar rather than in our usual function room. See minutes of our previous meetings at http://manchester.no2id.net/taxonomy/term/5

+ Oxford +

+ 2nd August - NO2ID Oxford Street Stall +
Saturday, 2nd August from around 12 noon for a couple of hours, on Cornmarket, Oxford. As usual, helpers are very welcome.  All you need to do is hand out a few leaflets and direct people to sign our petition.  You don't need to tell us you are coming, but it helps with planning. For more, contact Jim (gadjie at gmail.com) who is coordinating this.

+ 7th August - NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 7th August (back on the first Thursday of the month) 8pm at the Mitre on the High Street to discuss the next steps in our campaign.

+ Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells +

"David Davis and the Surveillance State" Public Meeting Report
Our public meeting "David Davis and the Surveillance State" on 7th July was little short of standing-room only, and the political spectrum, age-range and demographic of the attending public could hardly have been wider. The only pro-ID attendee was given a warm round of applause for a game but lonely defence of the government scheme. As there appears to be a strong public appetite for such debate we will hold more such events. But we need HELP - PLEASE: our only problem is to find any official figure willing to speak on the pro-ID side of open public debates. Every time we invite any official figure to bat for the pro-ID side we see only a pair of heels and a cloud of dust. (Is there an embargo on pro-ID officials speaking at *genuinely open* public debates?) Any help in locating such a volunteer willing to speak in the Tunbridge Wells area will be much appreciated, and we will treat them well, give them cups of tea and promise we won't have them arrested for Breach of the Peace for attending our meeting with a view that is different to ours.

Stalls continue in the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge town centres throughout the summer - please email if you are able to help on the rota (tunbridge.wells@no2id.net).

What just happened?

+ Data Sharing Review Gives Green Light to Data Sharing +

Last Friday the Data Sharing Review by the Information Commissioner and Mark Walport of the Wellcome Trust was published. The report disgracefully fails to recognise the magnitude of the database state. The 'Data Sharing Review Report - annexes' acknowledges that: "A recurring theme among members of the public was the disparity in power between the citizen and the state in relation to data sharing", and that, "It was said that the citizen has no choice but to use public (or publicly administrated) services, but equally had no choice or say over how their personal information is used once it was in the public sector". However the report recommends the removal of legal barriers to data sharing: "We recommend that where there is a genuine case for removing or modifying an existing legal barrier to data sharing, a new statutory fast-track procedure should be created". We have consistently warned that the removal of existing firewalls will lead to the abolition of privacy - the report's authors clearly disagree. Or don't care.
Read the review and submissions at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/reviews/datasharing-intro.htm
NO2ID's submission is at http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/NO2ID-Data-Sharing-Response.pdf
For analysis of the review see: http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2008/07/11/data-sharing-review/

+ Italian fingerprinting - How to policy launder at home +

The Italian government has been the subject of worldwide controversy after they introduced a mandatory programme to fingerprint gypsies. The Italian government said they had begun fingerprinting tens of thousands of gypsies in nomad camps across the country to help fight crime. Various groups accused the Italians of racism and many compared their action to that of the Nazis during the Holocaust. However such calls of discrimination, rather than the principled argument that fingerprinting anyone is wrong, have given the Italians the way out they probably wanted all along - fingerprint everyone and so dodge the criticism of discrimination. On Wednesday an Italian parliamentary panel gave initial approval to the 'fingerprint everyone' plan. The move will introduce fingerprinting from 2010, for national identity cards which are required for all Italian citizens and foreigners living in Italy.

+ Home Office gets down with the youth, sort of +

The Home Office has set up a web site to promote the National ID scheme to young people. The site says: "We want to know what you think, so contribute contribute contribute.", and not at all creepily adds, "Don’t be shy". However things haven't been going so well on the site as the pesky youngsters haven't all been as on message as the government might have hoped. For instance a quick scan of the discussion topics reveals: "We don't want the ID Card", "Number of The Beast", "What could 4.4Bn of taxpayers money be better spent on?", "Carrying on the Stalinist security state dream", "Creepy" and "Stopping the ID card scheme".

+ German ID fingerprints will be voluntary +

Germans will not have to submit to fingerprinting when their new electronic ID cards are introduced in 2010 [where have you heard that year before? - ed]. An interior ministry document circulated to industry and local authorities confirms that the government has abandoned compulsion, following widespread controversy. Germans who want their fingerprints on their IDs will have that option, but it will no longer be a requirement. The ministry briefing reportedly insists that "the high German security level should also form the basis of an EU-wide standard for electronic identity cards". This prompted the ITC news service Heise Online to look at ID practices around Europe. It found widely differing systems.  "A Spanish particularity is that the ID card is associated with a central database in which the full biometric information of all citizens (photos, fingerprints) is stored. In Britain, misgivings over such central registration have made the introduction of electronic identity cards highly controversial."

"ID" in the news


+ Doctors repeat call for inquiry into CFH - eHealth Insider 14/7/08 +
Doctors’ representatives have called for an independent inquiry into Connecting for Health and demanded that trusts be allowed to seek solutions directly from IT providers.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/3943/doctors_repeat_call_for_inquiry_into_cfh

+ Airports slam plan for staff ID cards - Travel Trade Gazette 12/7/08
Airport operators have written an open letter to the home secretary protesting about a plan to issue airport staff with ID cards. The British Air Transport Authority (Bata) wrote to Jacqui Smith MP saying that the introduction of biometric ID cards for about 200,000 airport workers, scheduled for the second half of 2009, will be costly but have no tangible benefit.
http://tinyurl.com/59wm2c

+ Report fingers prints as ID scheme's point of failure - The Register 10/7/08 +
Yet more trouble assails the government’s £4.4bn National Identity Scheme (NIS), as an official report puts the boot into the preferred scheme for “exception handling” – and a bunch of techies show how the recommended system can be beaten.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/10/id_national_identity_scheme/

+ Privacy issue will dictate data debate - Computing 10/7/08 +
The oldest and truest cliché about data privacy is that technology is both the problem and the solution. There have already been murmurings that ministers want to relax elements of the Data Protection Act to allow further cross-matching of data in different Whitehall systems.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/analysis/2221224/privacy-issue-dictate-debate-4113166

+ Cost of surveillance "costing UK £20billion" - The Mirror 7/7/08 +
The cost of our surveillance society has topped £20billion, a report claims today. The figure, which is said to work out as costing £800 per household, includes £19billion for the planned ID card system and £500million spent on CCTV cameras.
http://tinyurl.com/629tgk

+ ID cards chief casts doubt on scheme security - ZDNet  4/7/08 +
The chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service has said the ID cards database will not be completely secure. James Hall said on Thursday that, after a string of high-profile data breaches in the past year, people should be concerned about the security of their personal information held by the government.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39443163,00.htm

+ ICO slaps TfL over Oyster data hoard - The Register 27/6/08 +
Last month Transport for London made it compulsory for children using the network to carry Oyster photocards. This has raised concerns about the amount of data the company is collecting.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/27/tfl_photcards/

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )  ]]> http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=102 NO2ID Newsletter 101 http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=101 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:01 GMT ++ MAKING CONNECTIONS ++
14 leading figures in the UK aviation industry have spoken out against the ID scheme. In a strongly worded letter to the Home Secretary, they express their "determined opposition" and highlight that enrolment on the National ID Scheme will provide "no additional security" - indeed it risks creating a "false sense of security".

Such vocal opposition represents a serious blow to the government's plans. And it is the sort of resistance that YOU can help NO2ID to spread at all levels, by using connections you already have.

You may be a member of a professional body, a club or association. You may volunteer or support a charity. You may be active in your church, mosque, synagogue or temple. You don't have to be a member of a political party or union. The organisation doesn't have to be national, in fact it's often easier to start local.

What we'd like you to do is simply ask people in the organisation what they know about the National Identity Scheme.

You could write a letter or speak to the leaders, or raise it at your next meeting. Talk to other members of the group. The point is to get people thinking about the scheme. The more people find out, the less they like it - and the more likely they are to do something about it.

Making connections is more important than ever. And you can certainly raise awareness of the ID scheme without being an expert in it. Please ask the question. You may be pleasantly surprised by the response.

What's next?

+ Help wanted +

NO2ID needs a part-time office manager to get on top of its administration (no pay at the moment but we might scrape together some funding for what is a very important role). The right person will be fanatically neat and organised and have experience in an admin role.We are also looking for meticulous people to do data-entry to maintain our membership and supporter records. A couple of hours at a time on a regular basis. Contact general.secretary@no2id.net if you can help

+ Request for volunteers +
NO2ID is looking for someone to run the NO2ID Myspace page. Please email Matty Mitford on local.groups@no2id.net if you think you might be able to help.

5th July – NO2ID at Open Tech
Saturday, 5th July at ULU, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HY. NO2ID will be running a couple of sessions at this event which is an informal one-day conference on technology, society and low-carbon living. Doors open at 10am; the event starts at 10.30am. Tickets are £5 on the door.
See http://www.ukuug.org/events/opentech2008

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

We now have local groups in 44 of the 69 proposed locations for interrogation centres - of which just 3 have yet to open. Parliamentary answers indicate that the most active centres are: Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Peterborough and Sheffield.

For information on your nearest interrogation centre, see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php. If you can help set up a local group in one of the remaining locations, or anywhere else in the UK, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net

+ Aylesbury +

+ 15th July - Inaugural NO2ID Aylesbury Meeting +
Tuesday, 15th July 7.30pm at The Bricklayers Arms : 19 Walton Terrace, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7QY. Contact: Neil Briscoe at aylesbury@no2id.net

+ Bedford +

+ 12th July - NO2ID Stall at Bedford River Festival +
Bedford NO2ID has been re-established and will be running a stall at the Bedford River Festival on Saturday 12th July. Volunteers to help very welcome - contact Bob Finnie (bedford@no2id.net).

+ Cambridge +

+ 2nd August - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 2nd August at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it..

+ Camden & Islington +

7th July - Camden & Islington NO2ID Meeting
Monday, 7th July 8pm at The Castle, 54 Pentonville Road. We cover our table with NO2ID flyers. Any enquiries camden@no2id.net

+ Cardiff +

+ Cardiff NO2ID gets new facebook page +
Supporters with a facebook account can now view Cardiff NO2ID's new facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15482803163&ref=ts

+ 4th July - Cardiff NO2ID on 98.7FM +
Friday, 4th July, 12.45pm. One of Cardiff's two coordinators, Michael Richards will be conducting a brief telephone interview with Radio Cardiff (98.7 FM - www.radiocardiff.org) on the subject of our forthcoming benefit gig and the reasons for it, possibly with a Plaid Cymru councillor. You can listen online at (www.radiocardiff.org).

+ 11th July - NO2ID Benefit Gig at KOKO Gorillas Cardiff +
Friday, 11th July at Koko Gorillaz, Miskin Road, Cathays, Cardiff. Sicknote, New State Radio, Cosmo, The Fix Up and Lou Noble will be providing plenty of entertainment in Cardiff's first NO2ID benefit gig. All profits will go to the NO2ID campaign.

+ 16th July - NO2ID Cardiff Meeting +
Wednesday, 16th July 7.30pm Shot in the Dark (City Road), Cardiff. Monthly meeting and planing of future action and events. Email cardiff@no2id.net for more info.

+ Cromer +

+ 7th July - Cromer NO2ID First Meeting +
Monday, 7th July 7:30pm, at The White Horse Inn, West Street, Cromer.Thereafter meetings will be at the same time and venue on the first Monday of the month.

+ Dorking +

Monthly meetings at 7.30pm every first Tuesday of the month at The Lincoln by Dorking main line station. Street stalls once a month in Dorking and once a month in a nearby town. Anyone from Dorking or surrounding towns interested in helping out is very welcome. Please come along or email (dorking@no2id.net).

+ 25th September - Question Time on ID Cards and the Database State +
Details to be confirmed.

+ Edinburgh +

Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

+ Glasgow +

Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow street stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net

+ Kensington and Chelsea +

+ 6th July - Kensington and Chelsea NO2ID Stall +
Sunday, 6th July we will be taking part in the street fair in Hogarth Road, London SW5. Volunteers are needed to help man the stall and talk to people. Please contact Jill Manasseh at kensington@no2id.net if you can help.

+ Leeds +

+ 3rd July - Leeds NO2ID Meeting (1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month) +
Thursday, 3rd July 7pm at the Peanut Gallery at Leeds Student Union building. You can email leeds@no2id.net for directions, or if you have any other questions about the meeting or NO2ID in general. For future reference, we will be holding meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month, and street stalls on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays.

+ Liverpool +

+ 8th July - Liverpool NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 8th July 7.30pm at Cooper's Bar, Lime Street Station, Lime Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1JD.

+ Manchester +

+ 4th July - Manchester NO2ID at "Red Friday", Bolton +
Friday, 4th July. Manchester NO2ID Co-Ordinator Dave Page may be speaking at the Bolton socialist discussion group "Red Friday" on identity cards and the Database State.

+ 6th July - Beech Road Festival, Chorlton, Manchester +
Sunday, 6th July from 11am (for noon start). Manchester NO2ID will have a stall at the Beech Road Festival in Chorlton. This lively community festival promises to be fun and friendly, and an ideal opportunity to engage Chorlton residents in a discussion on the database state. We could use a few more volunteers for the stall, so please e-mail manchester@no2id.net or just turn up on the day.

+ 12th July - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 12th July 2pm-4pm in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. You don't need any experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile!

+ 16th July - Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +
Wednesday, 16th July, 7pm in the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly, this venue is not wheelchair-accessible; please contact us on manchester@no2id.net if you have accessibility needs. This month, due to a double booking, we will be meeting in side area just off the main bar rather than in our usual function room.

+ 17th July - - "Freed Up" Poetry Night, Manchester +
Thursday, 17th July, 7pm at the Green Room on Whitworth Street, Manchester. Manchester NO2ID and Freed Up present a night of poetry on the theme of "Identity". Come along and enjoy the poetry, or bring your own contribution.
See http://www.myspace.com/freeduppoets and http://www.greenroomarts.org/

+ Oxford +

+ 6th July - NO2ID Oxford at the Cowley Road Carnival +
Sunday, 6th July from noon. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the government's scheme, but the carnival is 6 hours long so we are definitely going to need some helpers. Please let us know if you can lend a hand (oxford@no2id.net). The day will be split into 3 shifts: 1200-1400, 1400-1600 and 1600-1800. If you have any preference which shift you help on let us know that too.

+ 9th July - NO2ID Oxford Meeting +
Wednesday, 9th July 8pm at the Mitre on the High Street, Oxford.

+ Sheffield +

+ 14th July - 1st NO2ID Sheffield Meeting +
Monday, 14th July 8pm at Millhouses Public House, 951 Abbeydale Road,S7 2QD. All welcome. Please bring a friend. Further details: Steven Montgomery (sheffield@no2id.net). If you can't make it to the meeting then you should join the Sheffield mailing list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.sheffield for further updates from the group.

+ Shrewsbury +

+ 5th July - Shrewsbury NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 5th July 10.30am to 12.30pm on Pride Hill in Shrewsbury, weather permitting. Drop by just to sign the petition, or you can borrow a high-vis vest and help out on the stall.

+ 14th July - Shrewsbury NO2ID Meeting +
Monday, 14th July 7.15pm until after 9pm in The Armoury, Shrewsbury (www.armoury-shrewsbury.co.uk). All welcome. Most of us will be eating there, or you can just come along for a drink.

+ Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells +

+ 7th July - Public Discussion: "David Davis and the Surveillance State" +
Monday, 7th July 7.30-9.00pm at the Angel Centre. Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells NO2ID will host a public discussion on growing concerns about the Database State as highlighted by David Davis, the ex Shadow Home Secretary. In his resignation statement Davis cited plans for the 'most intrusive identity card system in the world' and a 'database state opening up our private lives to the prying eyes of official snoopers and exposing our personal data to careless civil servants and criminal hackers'. Those who would like to share their views on the government's plans for the Surveillance State and the shifting boundary between state and individual are most welcome to join in the discussion.

+ Yorkshire +

+ 5th July - Haltemprice & Howden By-Election +
Saturday, 5th July. Yorkshire NO2ID will be taking the message of Identity Cards and the Database State to the streets in the weekend preceding the Haltemprice & Howden By-Election. Naturally we won't be endorsing any particular candidate but we hope to raise the profile of the issue both among voters and in the national media who will be covering events. NO2ID supporters from across the country will be heading over to lend a hand - but the more the better! If you're able to go along and help out, please contact Yorkshire co-ordinator James Eldon-Baker on yorkshire@no2id.net

What just happened?

+ NO2ID Campaigners Arrested at "Public" Meeting +

On Monday (30th June) nine NO2ID campaigners were arrested after they staged a peaceful protest at an invitation only Home Office so-called "public consultation". NO2ID's protest was an entirely peaceful and lawful attempt to publicise the Home Office's shifty semi-secret proceedings that had been pre-arranged with STV news. There was no intention to frighten or inconvenience any member of the public. The nine were charged with breach of the peace and bound over for 30 days. One of those arrested had a 4 year old child with her. Another of those arrested was a 68 year old retired academic. It took nine hours for the last of the protesters to be released from police custody. John Welford, NO2ID Edinburgh co-ordinator and one of the nine arrested, in a letter to The Scotsman said: "What is it about the current Labour Government that it is unable to tolerate any criticism of its policies and actions? And why is it frightened to engage openly and honestly in proper debate with the citizens of this country, especially about an issue as controversial as compulsory identity cards and the setting up of a vast, intrusive database state? …the government prefers to organise its own heavily controlled focus group meetings and private consultations away in the shadows."

+ Poynter Review of HMRC Data Loss released +

Last week a report was released by Kieran Poynter, Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, into the loss of child benefit records at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) last year. The report points out that: "There was a general lack of awareness across HMRC Business Units, at least prior to the incident, of the importance of information security." It goes on to reveal: "a great deal of work will be required to bring HMRC up to and to sustain the world class standard for information security to which it now properly aspires".
Read the extremely dull report at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/0/1/poynter_review250608.pdf

+ Biometric Assurance Group calls for ID scheme privacy issues to be addressed +

The Biometrics Assurance Group (BAG) has released its annual report which sets out the group's examination of the government's work on biometrics during 2007, focusing particularly on the national identity scheme. The report recommends: "that proper attention be paid to the privacy/consent issue across the National Identity Scheme, BAG considered that the issue was not fully addressed by the publication of the Strategic Action Plan and that the public needed to be better informed over this".
Read the report at http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/downloads/FINAL-BAG-annual-report-2007-v1_0.pdf

+ Austria sets the pace for ID slogans +

The home page of the Austrian government’s e-government website (http://www.help.gv.at) shows the sort of excitement they hope the people of Austria will have for their ID scheme. Their banner features people jumping for joy and is emblazoned with the slogan: "Get yourself activated … get an electronic ID card!" Meanwhile the UK ID web site has gone with a much more sedate: "Everyone’s unique. Let us keep it that way." After all of the recent data losses perhaps they should use: "Everyone’s unique. Let’s see how long that lasts."

"ID" in the news

+ Access to NHS care records to be widened - eHealth Insider 3/7/08 +
The Department of Health is to review the scope of access to the NHS Care Records Service, including possibly making them available to non-NHS staff.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/3915/access_to_nhs_care_records_to_be_widened

+ Agreement to speed up travel between the UK and US - News Distribution Service 2/7/08 +
The Home Office today announced plans to speed up travel between the UK and the US for trusted people who move regularly between the two countries. The new scheme would benefit trusted travellers who travel frequently between the two countries, underlining the importance of speedy travel between the UK and the US.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=372717&NewsAreaID=2

+ Will Scots be willing to carry identity cards? Meg Hillier- The Scottish Herald 29/6/08 +
The Scottish Government has made clear it does not intend to use identity cards. But from 2011 there will be many in Scotland who will use the card as their main form of identification. It will be for the Scottish Government to explain why it refuses to accept this official proof of identity.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.2369911.0.Will_Scots_be_willing_to_carry_identity_cards.php

+ We can't leave David Davis to carry the fight on his own - The Observer 29/6/08 +
A report by Independent Scheme Assurance Panel on ID cards found that not only would there be inbuilt mistakes in the database, but that poorer people would suffer a greater risk of fraud.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/29/daviddavis.civilliberties

+ U.S. and Europe Near Agreement on Private Data - New York Times 28/6/08 +
The United States and the European Union are nearing completion of an agreement allowing law enforcement and security agencies to obtain private information — like credit card transactions, travel histories and Internet browsing habits — about people on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/28/washington/28privacy.html?scp=1&sq=european%20framework&st=cse

+ FBI's all-seeing database project loses funds - The Inquirer 28/6/08 +
On Thursday, the US House Science and Technology Committee voted to deny the FBI $11 million to continue work on a massive database of government records on virtually all American citizens. The vote came after the FBI refused to tell Congress about its plans.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/06/27/fbi-seeing-database-project

+ Government slammed by data breach reports - Information Age 26/6/08 +
The MoD and HMRC have been hit with enforcement notices from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), following the release of two damning reviews into major data breaches. The departments will be fined if they fail to adopt the recommendations in the Poynter and Burton reports, into the HMRC and MoD respectively.
http://www.information-age.com/home/information-age-today/445601/government-slammed-by-data-breach-reports.thtml

+ Oh well. I wasn’t using my civil liberties anyway - Ideal Government 21/6/08 +
The Economist and YouGov report on the current state of public opinion on some of our favourite issues. Despite Benjamin Franklin's famous advice, the public seems happy to trade a little liberty for a little security.
http://www.idealgovernment.com/index.php/blog/oh_well_i_wasnt_using_my_civil_liberties_anyway/

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) ) ]]> http://www.no2id.net/news/newsletters/newsletter.php?issue=101