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The challenge of identity policies in a globalised world. Edgar A. Whitley and Gus Hosein. Uses of ‘identity’. Proof of identity Access to government services Combating terrorism Public administration Immigration control. Identity cards or identity policies?. Choices.
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The challenge of identity policies in a globalised world Edgar A. Whitley and Gus Hosein
Uses of ‘identity’ • Proof of identity • Access to government services • Combating terrorism • Public administration • Immigration control
Choices • About the kinds of technologies to use • About the role of the private sector • About the balance between the rights and concerns of the citizen and those of government • …
1: Proving age • Sita’s gone out with a group of friends after college. They’re all celebrating and Sita offers to buy a round. When she gets to the bar the barman asks for proof that she’s over 18. Sita laughs and says she’s 19, but the barman is new and demands proof of age. Sita digs in her bag and pulls out her identity card. She hands it over which confirms that she is in fact 19. As she puts the card back in her purse she is relieved that she no longer has to hand over documents with her address on them to prove her age.
Minimal disclosure of data • Can data on identity card be used to uniquely identify someone (e.g. allow access to their birth certificate)?
Technological alternatives exist • Based around minimal disclosure • E.g. Birch DGW (2009) Psychic ID: A blueprint for a modern national identity scheme Identity in the Information Society Open Access Journal Archived at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12394-009-0014-6
2: Policing • Match biometrics against record of unmatched crime scene prints
Joined up government • Requires correct list of, e.g. registered educational institutions
Lack of understanding • Trusted identification • Trusted authentication • Relying parties • Levels of risk
The implementation challenge • Which biometrics? • What kind of database?
Explanations • Policy laundering? • The card cartel? • Imaginary technologies? • Limitations of legislative scrutiny of technological schemes?
Contact details Dr Edgar A. Whitley Department of Management London School of Economics and Political Science E.a.whitley@lse.ac.uk http://personal.lse.ac.uk/whitley http://identityproject.lse.ac.uk