ID cards 'could threaten privacy' - Select Committee Report
The Home Affairs Select Committee has called for proper safeguards on the plans for compulsory ID cards to stop "function creep" threatening privacy. It wants a guarantee that the scheme will not be expanded without MPs' approval. The government says that the scheme would not be used as a surveillance tool. However, the Committee's report said "We seek the further assurance that any initiative to broaden the scope of the scheme will only be proposed after consulting the information commissioner and on the basis that proposals will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny in draft form,". Committee chairman Keith Vaz said there could be "potentially disastrous consequences" if data was mishandled.