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Author Archive David Nikel

Reasons For ID Cards Not Made Clear

The identity minister Meg Hillier has admitted that the government did not make its reasons for identity cards “clear enough”.
In a Westminster Hall debate, the Labour MP Mark Todd accused the government of not making a “promising start” and said the public’s trust must be won for identity cards to work.
He said: “The [...]

Passport Service hires Alan Gilmour to market ID cards

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has appointed former Lloyds TSB marketer Alan Gilmour to the new position of director of marketing and customer insight. He will head a high-profile drive backing its identity card scheme.

Held As A Terrorist: Man Accused Of Photographing A Sewer Cover!

Not a joke.
Hat-tip to Home Office Watch from the Liberal Democrats.

Convention On Modern Liberty - The Reaction - Part 2

Black Mental Health UK focuses on the human rights concerns over new community treatment orders.

Former shadow health minister, Tim Lawton slammed CTO’s as psychiatric asbo’s, which will make thousands of people prisoners in their own homes. Health experts working in the community fear that in a risk-adverse climate the danger that clinicians will use the [...]

Firm Sold Workers’ Confidential Data

A Worcestershire firm has been shut down by the Information Commission after investigations revealed they sold workers’ confidential data to over 40 firms.
The data, including workers’ political affiliations, trade union activities and employment history, was mostly bought by construction companies such as Taylor Woodrow, Laing O’Rourke and Balfour Beatty, according to BBC News.
This shocking revelation [...]

CIA Destroyed Terror Interrogation Tapes

News has emerged that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has destroyed 92 tapes of interviews conducted with terror suspects. This despite previously claiming that only 2 tapes had been destroyed.
According to BBC News, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched a lawsuit against the CIA to seek details of the interrogations of terror suspects. [...]

Liverpool To Resist ID Cards?

Following Saturday’s call to arms that was the Convention on Modern Liberty, the question has been asked, “What next?”
Well in Liverpool, a Lib Dem Councillor has taken matters into his own hands. Tonight Cllr Colin Eldridge is putting a motion to the full Council meeting outlining opposition to the scheme.
“Liverpool City Council [...]

Convention on Modern Liberty – The Reaction - Part 1

The Register made it along to the more tech-focused Cambridge event:
If the panel sessions were largely about people agreeing strenuously with one another, the afternoon debate (in Cambridge), between Government Minister Bill Rammell, MP and David Howarth, MP summarised in one short exchange what the real issue is. Both speakers agreed that the other [...]

The Secrets Under The Streets Of London

Ever get that feeling you’re being watched?
Well if you live in, work in or pass through central London, you probably are. The Tube is not the only thing lurking underneath our capital’s streets, as this Guardian article and video reveals.
Westminster’s CCTV control room contains 48 screens with feeds from 160 fixed cameras and numerous more [...]

CSI:Pooch

Did you think it was just humans that had to worry about DNA evidence? Now thanks to one start-up from across the pond, your dogs might be getting nervous too.
BioPet, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, is marketing a range of pet-related products which use DNA technology, led by their PooPrints system. The system collects saliva swabs [...]