[LINK] Britain begins ID procurement

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

<brd>
Technically the UK project is a lot simpler than the Australian Access 
Card system. From what I can tell from publicly available documents on 
both schemes, the UK ID card is read only and will not be updated when 
someone reads the card.

This is unlike the Access Card system where it is proposed that every 
time the card is used, there is the opportunity to update card data from 
the back-end applications - a much more difficult technical problem than 
just reading static data off a smart card.

The procurement document, which is full of EU bureaucratic speak, is at 
https://homeoffice.bravosolution.com/esop/toolkit/notice/public/tender.do?caller=0&tenderId=tender_17806

</brd>

Britain begins ID procurement
Michael Holden in London
August 10, 2007
Australian IT
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,22220727-24169,00.html

BRITAIN has launched the process to choose companies to run its 
multi-billion-pound national identity card scheme, the world's most 
ambitious biometric project.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government described the move as "another 
milestone" towards the controversial compulsory scheme, which is 
expected to cost more than £5 billion ($12 billion) over the next decade.
Ministers say the cards carrying fingerprint, iris and face-recognition 
technology, are vital to fight terrorism, serious organised crime and 
illegal immigration.

The scheme, due to be rolled out from 2009, would see Britons issued 
with ID cards for the first time since they were abolished after World 
War II.

"This is a groundbreaking project, with the potential for huge benefits 
for individuals and for the nation," Home Office Minister Meg Hillier said.

"As the Framework Procurement published today makes clear, we are 
committed to introducing the scheme carefully and securely, minimising 
both cost and risk."

The notice, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, 
invites firms to bid for the supply and maintenance of computer systems 
and the issuing of the cards themselves.

Media reports said five firms would be chosen for the project with the 
largest contracts said to be worth up to £500 million.

The cards, which will involve one of the world's largest IT schemes, 
have drawn much criticism, with opponents saying they will infringe 
civil rights and be a costly flop.

The opposition Conservative Party warned potential bidders on Thursday 
that it would scrap the scheme if it wins the next election.

"This project will do nothing to improve our security," said David 
Davis, the Conservative home affairs spokesman.

"In fact independent experts like Microsoft and the LSE (London School 
of Economics) have pointed out that it could well make our security 
worse while costing the tax payer £20 billion in the process."

ID cards are used in about a dozen European Union countries but are not 
always compulsory and do not carry as much data as those planned for 
Britain.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au