Academics pitch alternative ID card scheme

The group – comprising more than 100 academics and outside experts in the fields of law, technology, information systems, government policy, business, economics and security – is hoping for public debate and comment on its suggestions before the publication of a report on the Government’s plans, due at the end of June.

An interim report published by the LSE in March identified serious flaws in the Government’s scheme and called for the ID Card Bill, which was reintroduced into Parliament last month, to be scrapped.

LSE's proposal

Under the LSE model, individuals looking for an ID card would go to an authorised facility such as a post office, where they would be able to create a coded application form, using a digital photo and basic ID information, in an electronic kiosk. A temporary Government file containing this data would be stored.

The individual would then have the form endorsed by two or three referees, similar to passport application forms today, and hand the form back to the authorised facility.

The form would then be checked, processed and a card issued. The card would contain a unique identifying number, although this master identifier would still be dormant.

The card would then be taken to a trusted third party – the LSE suggests a bank, police station or solicitor’s office – local to the individual. There the card would be connected to the original temporary file and, if the codes match, the card would be validated and the identifier activated.

All data, says the LSE, would then be deleted from the Government’s temporary file except the name, code and card number. But the trusted third party would retain a copy of all the card data.

The individual could then use the master identifier to create a number of tailored but verified identities for use in different situations. He would also be able to update the information held by the trusted third party.

The alternative model has been designed to take account of 13 principles that should, according to the LSE, govern any national ID card scheme. These state that an identity system should:

1. Be proportionate;
2. Be inspired by clear and specific goals;
3. Be transparent;
4. Require identity disclosure only when necessary;
5. Serve the individual;
6. Be more than just a card – so that it allows electronic delivery of benefits and services;
7. Ensure that personal information is controlled by the individual;
8. Use empathetic and responsive registration;
9. Ensure that stolen or compromised identity or biometric credentials can be revoked;
10. Ensure that ID numbers are invisible and restricted – to limit function creep;
11. Allow for multiple authenticated electronic identities – so that individuals can create ID credentials, with differing amounts of information, for particular purposes;
12. Avoid reliance on a central registry of personal data as much as possible; and
13. Allow individuals to backup the data on their card, securely and privately.