Digital ID could resolve the password problem

sir – In 2005 I worked in the smartcard industry and followed the progress of the Labour ID card closely. I now work independently in the digital ID field. I have three observations to make on Jill Kirby’s piece (“Digital ID cards are a very dangerous idea”, Comment, September 3).

First, the Labour scheme was based on old technology and was backwardlooking. It was about physical identity and the state being in control because it had the database and could decide to issue you with a card or not. Given that the world was rapidly moving online at the time, the scheme would have been out of date before it launched.

Secondly, the push by government to put all of its services online and the parallel change in the commercial world means the old methods of identifying ourselves at the till or the counter can no longer be used. Most of us now use digital ID in the form of multiple usernames and passwords online. On the whole, we use insecure passwords, which are inconvenient because many websites demand that you change them on a regular basis.

This leads us all to use too many and creates huge frustration when you cannot remember which applies to which website. We need to move to something more convenient and secure.

Thirdly, new technology means that I can use a passport or driver’s licence to prove my identity and generate a digital ID. There is no need for a huge database.

There are essentially three models of ID. There is the Chinese model, whereby your ID is used as a method of social control; the Californian model, which is free and involves giving all your information over in return; or the European consent-based model. It is unclear which one the Government intends to follow. I hope that it is the European one.

With private companies such as Google and Facebook we are at the mercy of customer service. At least if the Government is responsible for our personal data we know where our MPS live and work.

Andrew Henderson

Hook, Hampshire