WHAT WE STAND FOR

NO2ID is a campaigning organisation. We are a single-issue group focussed on the threat to liberty and privacy posed by the rapid growth of the database state, of which "ID cards" are the most visible part. We are entirely independent. We do not endorse any party, nor campaign on any other topic.

We aim to publicise the case against state identity management among the general public, in the media, and at every level in government. NO2ID's members are from all sorts of backgrounds and hold all sorts of opinions on other questions. They almost certainly include people much like you. Please support us.

NO2ID comment:

NO2ID congratulates David Davis on winning the Haltemprice and Howden by-election. We hope his example will encourage MPs of all parties and the general public to take a closer look at the growth of the database state.

'DATA SHARING REVIEW' - A NEW ATTACK ON PRIVACY

Friday 11th July 2008 saw the publication of yet another government review.

Perhaps it is no surprise that an enquiry led by Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, and Dr Mark Walport, the Director of the Wellcome Trust, proposes more powers and funding for the Information Commissioner's Office and to make life easier for medical researchers. But this was supposed to be an examination of the principles of government handling of personal data.

It disgracefully fails to recognise the magnitude of the database state. Apart from a feeble couple of lines on "the potential hazards associated with ambitious programmes of data sharing", Thomas and Walport dodge any serious discussion of the National Identity Scheme, NHS Electronic Care Records and Secondary Uses Service (SUS), ContactPoint or any other 'Transformational Government' initiative - and, worse, propose weakening privacy protections by allowing ministers to fast-track data-trafficking proposals through Parliament with even less scrutiny than at present.

You might wonder whether that indicates any real concern about the 'hazards' to those whose lives are affected by such data.

If you want to see a truly positive approach, we recommend you read NO2ID's submission to the enquiry. We think we should take advantage of technology to deliver real protection and real privacy - and that we need new, clearer law to make you 'owner' of information about you.

Data protection isn't privacy. Regulation of officials by officials will always be inadequate. What is needed are ways for you to decide who to trust, and for you to keep control. Privacy rights that can be directly enforced by the millions of people whose interests are actually at stake will not be casually abused.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 'ID CARDS'

There's a lot of confusion about the government's proposed national identity scheme, and it doesn't help that the Home Office often gives misleading information.

Our summary of the scheme is here.

Answers to selected Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are here.

The 'database state' is what we call the tendency to try to use computers to manage society by watching people. There are many interlocking government plans that do this. Together they mean officials poking into your private life more than ever before.

The list of database state initiatives on which NO2ID is campaigning, along with a wide range of other organisations is here.

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