ID Cards
I promise you, they don't become evil spying devices when you don't look at them.
No, obviously, any ID Card worth its salt is quite capable of becoming an evil spying device even if someone is looking at it. In fact that's sort-of the point.
People tend to trust an ID Card. If you can obtain a plausible looking fake with your photo and someone else's name you will be able to persuade most people that you are that person. They won't think about it -- it's an ID Card, it must be true. This actually makes fraud easier than it is at present because if all you have to present to prove your identity is an electricity bill there is some chance that someone may actually check it, or ask to see another bill as well. If all you have to forge is an ID Card there will be people who can knock off a very plausible fake very easily and the whole system will quickly become worthless.
... but the real problem isn't that. The real problem is that the checks in place to ensure that a real ID Card can only be issued to the person it is intended to identify are either insufficiently secure or excessively expensive (depending on the approach taken) ... and will probably require presentation of an electricity bill.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
