Reply to post: Re: Not wishing to trust Big Gov, but--

First it was hashtags – now Amber Rudd gives us Brits knowledge on national ID cards

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward

Re: Not wishing to trust Big Gov, but--

"The UK is the only advanced country (apart from the US, I think) that does NOT have an ID card system."

Not true. Canada does not have a national identity card.

There is a unique identifier for tax purposes - the SSN - for which a card was optionally available, but it is illegal for anyone to demand the SSN for any purpose not linked to implementing necessary taxation related administration.

Even the federal government does not use it as a 'universal identifier' and any government at any level or corporation or other body that tried to do so would be in deep trouble.

A while ago, it was determined that a card with the SSN was an unacceptable security/privacy risk, and such cards are no longer available.

There is no requirement for carrying any form of identification unless engaged in specific activities requiring relevant documentation, such as a driver's licence when operating a motor vehicle on a public highway, or a relevant radio licence when operating a radio transmitter.

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