The Independent
October 5, 2012
The Government will announce details this month of a controversial national identity scheme which will allow people to use their mobile phones and social media profiles as official identification documents for accessing public services.
People wishing to apply for services ranging from tax
credits to fishing licences and passports will be asked to choose from a
list of familiar online log-ins, including those they already use on
social media sites, banks, and large retailers such as supermarkets, to
prove their identity.
Once they have logged in
correctly by computer or mobile phone, the site will send a message to
the government agency authenticating that user’s identity.
The Cabinet Office is understood to have held discussions with the Post Office, high street banks, mobile phone companies and technology giants ranging from Facebook and Microsoft to Google, PayPal and BT.
Ministers
are anxious that the identity programme is not denounced as a “Big
Brother” national ID card by the back door, which is why data will not
be kept centrally by any government department. Indeed, it is hoped the
Identity Assurance Programme, which is being led by the Cabinet Office,
will mean the end to any prospect of a physical national ID card being
introduced in the UK.
The identification systems
used by the private companies have been subjected to security testing
before being awarded their “Identity Provider” (IDP) kitemark, meaning
that they have made the list of between five and 20 approved
organisations that will be announced on 22 October.
