01 June, 2010
category: Biometrics, Government
Legislation has been proposed in the UK parliament to abolish the identity card scheme, according to a BBC news report. The 15,000 people who voluntarily paid for a card since the 2009 roll out will not get a refund.
The ID card program was aimed at reducing fraud, illegal immigration and identity theft – but was often criticized for its cost and the toll on civil liberties. The cards were designed to hold biometric data on an smart card chip.
A separate program, which is similar, for foreign nationals will continue. The UK Border Agency is still being rolling that system out. It issues ID cards to foreign nationals in the UK with 200,000 already in circulation.
Read the full BBC report here.