From: "Dave Banisar" <banisar@epic.org>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 04:14:51 +0800
To: "Cypherpunks List" <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Subject: National ID Card Web Pages
Message-ID: <n1370450087.79840@epic.org>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



         EXTENSIVE NATIONAL ID CARD WEB SITE IS NOW ON LINE


The London-based human rights watchdog Privacy International (PI)
has just opened an extensive web page on National ID cards. The
initiative comes in the wake of pending efforts in the United
States, Canada and United Kingdom to implement national ID card
systems.

The page contains a 7,000 word FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on
all aspects of ID cards and their implications. Also included in the
PI documents is a paper describing successful campaigns opposing to
ID cards in Australia and other countries.  The page also has links
to numerous other sites and documents.

PI Director Simon Davies said he hoped the page would help promote
debate about the cards, "ID cards are often introduced without
serious discussion or consultation. The implications are profound,
and countries planning to introduce them should proceed with
caution."

"The existence of a card challenges important precepts of individual
rights and privacy. At a symbolic and a functional level, ID cards
are often an unnecessary and potentially dangerous white elephant.
They are promoted by way of fear-mongering and false patriotism, and
are implemented with scant regard for serious investigation of the
consequences." he said.

The URL is :

   http://www.privacy.org/pi/activities/idcard/

PI has also set up an auto response function for the FAQ document.
Its address is: idcardfaq@mail.privacy.org

Privacy International is an international human rights group
concerned with privacy and surveillance issues. It is based in
London, UK. For further information contact the Privacy
International Washington Office at +1.202.544.9240 or email
pi@privacy.org. PI's web page is available at:
http://www.privacy.org/pi/





_________________________________________________________________________
Subject: National ID Card Web Pages
_________________________________________________________________________
David Banisar (Banisar@privacy.org)     *  202-544-9240 (tel)
Privacy International Washington Office *  202-547-5482 (fax)
666 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Suite 301     *  HTTP://www.privacy.org/pi/
Washington, DC 20003