Information AboutIdentity Cards |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT IDENTITY DOCUMENT | |
| authentication methods | |
| personal documents | |
| personal identification | |
| international travel documents | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
|
An identity document is a piece of Documentation designed to prove the Identity of the person carrying it. Unlike other forms of documentation, which only have a single purpose such as authorizing Bank transfers or proving membership of a Library , an identity document simply asserts the bearer's identity. If an identity document is in the form of a small standard-sized card, such as an ISO 7810 card, it is called an '''identity card'''. Identity cards can be controversial, as depending on the way they are used by government. If the circumstances where they must be produced covers everyday life and if enough information about use is stored on databases, this can make government surveillance of citizens much easier. In some countries, a person's National Identification Number may be printed on their identity card, either in addition to the document's serial number, or instead of the latter. TYPES OF IDENTITY CARDS Modern identity cards bear little resemblance to the original "photograph on piece of cardboard" and are often hi-tech Smartcard s which can be read by computer. Where the identity card is issued by a State , it asserts a unique single civil identity for a person, thus defining that person's identity purely in relation to the state. New Technologies allow identity cards to contain Biometric information, such as Photograph s, Face , Hand or Iris measurements, or Fingerprint s. Other information typically present on the cards — or on the supporting database — includes full name, parents' names, address, Profession , Nationality in multinational states, and Blood Type . LEGAL IMPACT Laws usually limit who is authorized to require an identification (for example limiting it to or Cheque . Similarly, in circumstances where law enforcement can legally ask for identification, not being able to show an ID document, though legal, may result in being taken to a police station for further identification, depending on the jurisdiction. In many cases, other forms of documentation such as a Driver's License , Passport , or Medicare card serve a similar function, identifying the bearer in a variety of contexts. However, possession of these documents is typically optional from a legal point of view. Not carrying a required identity card can be beneficial for people who wish to avoid detection. It may also help in some illegal dealings; for instance, in certain countries, the procedures for deporting Illegal Immigrant s whose age, identity or nationality cannot be formally established are more complex than those for whom they can be readily asserted, giving the illegal immigrant more time to prepare his or her defense. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST IDENTITY CARDS Arguments about identity cards is largely limited to Anglo-Saxonic Common-law countries. In most countries where an ID system is present, it is seen as a commonplace item that nobody argues about. In the United Kingdom and the United States especially, state-issued compulsory identity cards are a source of great controversy. Some people regard them as a gross infringement of Privacy and Civil Liberties , whilst others regard them as uncontroversial. Usually, mainstream criticism is actually directed towards possibilities of extensive ''abuse'' of identity documents; central databases with storage of sensitive data are especially feared. While such systems have been proposed in some countries, in most countries with identification documents they have not been implemented. Arguments in favour Supporters of identity cards argue that:
Arguments against Economic and social Liberal s have a generally negative attitude towards identity cards on the principle that if society already works adequately without them, they should not be imposed by government, on the principle that "the government that governs best, governs least". Some opponents have pointed out that extensive Lobbying for identity cards has been undertaken, in countries without compulsory identity cards, by IT companies who will be likely to reap rich rewards in the event of an identity card scheme being implemented. Very often, opposition to identity cards is born out of the suspicion that they will be used to track anyone's movements and private life, possibly endangering one's Privacy ; for instance, a person will probably not want others to know he or she is attending meetings with Alcoholics Anonymous . In countries currently using identity cards, there is no mechanism for this. However the proposed British ID card (see next section) will involve a series of linked databases, to be managed by the private sector. Managing disparate linked systems with a range of institutions and any number of personnel having access to them is a potential security disaster in the making. {Link without Title} Opponents have also argued that some nations require the card to be carried at all times. This is not necessarily impractical, as an ID is no more cumbersome than a credit card. However, opponents point out that a requirement to carry an identity card at all times can lead to arbitrary requests from card controllers (such as the Police ). This can lead to Functionality Creep whereby carrying a card becomes '' De Facto '' if not '' De Jure '' compulsory. That is, everyone carries their card around anyway even though there is no law. It would be inconvenient, for example, to go home and get the card if stopped by police. Some opponents make comparisons with Totalitarian governments, which issued identity cards to their populations, and used them oppressively.
IDENTITY CARDS WORLDWIDE Countries with compulsory identity cards According to Privacy International , As Of 1996 , around 100 countries had compulsory identity cards. They also stated that "virtually no Common Law country has a card". The term "compulsory" may have different meanings and implications in different countries. The compulsory character may apply only after a certain age. Often, a ticket can be given for being found without one's identification document, or in some cases a person may even be detained until the identity is ascertained. In practice, random controls are rare, except in Police State s.
Countries with non-compulsory identity cards
France See Also: French national identity card In France , it is forbidden to walk around without one's ID and at least 15 euros, a remnant of the anti- Vagabond Laws which were voted during the 19th century to fix in some location Workers ). The country has had a national ID card since 1940 , when it helped the Vichy authorities identify 76,000 for deportation as part of The Holocaust . Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben often underlines this, showing how Anthropometry may be used by the state. In the past, identity cards were compulsory, had to be updated each year in case of change of residence and were valid for 10 years, and their renewal required paying a fee. In addition to the face protograph, the card included the family name, first names, date and place of birth, and the national identity number managed by the national INSEE Registry , and which is also used as the national service registration number, as the Social Security account number for health and retirement benefits, for access to court files and for tax purposes. Later, the laws were changed so that any official and certified document (even if expired and possibly unusable abroad) with a photograph and a name on it, issued by a public administration or enterprise (such as a railroad transportation card, a student card, a Driving Licence or a Passport ) can be used to prove one's identity. Also, law enforcement (police, gendarmerie) can now accept photocopies of these documents when performing identity checks, provided that the original document is presented within two weeks. For finacial transactions, any of these documents must be equally accepted as proof of identity. The current identity cards are now issued free of charge, and non-compulsory. Legislation has been published for a proposed compulsory biometric card system, which has been widely criticised, among others by the "National commission for computing and liberties" (''Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés'', CNIL ), the national authority and regulator on computing systems and databases. Identity cards issued since 2004 include basic biometric information (a digitized fingerprint record, a printed digital photograph and a scanned signature) and various anti-fraud systems embedded within the plastic-covered card. The next generation of the French green card, named "Carte Vitale", for the Social Security benefit (which already includes a chip and a magnetic stripe currently containing very little information) will include a digital photograph and other personal medical information in addition to identity elements. It may then become a substitute for the National Identity Card. Countries with no identity cards
United States See Also: Identity documents in the United States There is no true national identity card in the United States Of America , in the sense that there is no federal agency with nationwide jurisdiction that directly issues such cards to all American citizens. All Legislative attempts to create one have failed due to tenacious opposition from Libertarian and Conservative politicians, who regard the national identity card as the mark of a Totalitarian society. Driver's Licenses issued by the various states (along with special cards issued to non-drivers) are often used in lieu of a national identification card and are often required for boarding airline flights or entering office buildings. Recent (2005) federal legislation that tightened requirements for issuance of driver's licenses has been seen by both supporters and critics as bringing the United States much closer to a ''de facto'' national identity card system. ''Note:'' As noted above, certain countries do not have national ID cards, but have other official documents that play the same role in practice (e.g. driver's license for the United States). While a country may not make it '' De Jure '' compulsory to own or carry an identity document, it may be '' De Facto '' strongly recommended to do so in order to facilitate certain procedures. Other non-sovereign state ID cards Some Basque Nationalist organizations are issuing para-official identity cards ('' Euskal Nortasun Agiria '') as a means to reject the nationality notions implied by Spanish and French compulsory documents. Then, they try to use the ENA instead of the official document. For the people of Western Sahara , pre-1975 Spanish cards are the main proof that they were Saharaui citizens as opposed to recent Moroccan colonists. They would be thus allowed to vote in an eventual self-determination referendum. NON-NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS Some companies and government departments issue ID cards for security purposes; they may also be proof of a qualification. For example, all Taxi Driver s in the UK and Hong Kong carry ID cards. In Queensland , anyone working with children has to take a Background Check and get issued a Blue Card . See Also: Warrant card SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
|