The New Dark Age

*Contacting us:* Call or email the office – 020-7793-4005 or (office@no2id.net).

+ FIGHT FOR HEALTH RECORDS HEATS UP +

As we warned in Newsletter 141, the Department of Health is trying to roll out Summary Care Records to millions of patients before the general election. Those who have received mail shots now have less than 12 weeks to act, if they want to preserve their medical confidentiality.

The British Medical Association and GPs’ leaders are deeply concerned and have told the government to stop letters being sent out to patients across England until they include an opt out form. Patients are being misinformed – not least about who will have access to their records [1] – and independent evaluators have noted that in the pilot areas 7 out of 10 patients weren’t even aware that a Summary Care Record had been created for them.

The Department is deliberately trying to make opt out difficult. Not only isn’t the opt out form included in the information pack, you are supposed to phone a call centre for one, trawl the NHS website for a download (no direct link is given) or ask your doctor (who may have no forms, or know little about the process).

NO2ID and our colleagues at the NHS Confidentiality Campaign [2] are trying to make exercising your right to opt out simple and straightforward – and we need you to help SPREAD THE WORD.

Please tell everyone you know and, even if you’ve opted out already [3], download and print off copies of our updated leaflet which explains what is going on and provides an opt out letter for people to use:

www.no2id.net/downloads/SCR_optout_sheet.pdf

And please do become a ‘fan’ of our new page on Facebook (the ‘Info’ section contains links to three other ways you can opt out) and pass it on:

www.facebook.com/pages/Protect-Your-Medical-Confidentiality-ACT-NOW/330345503401

— Notes: [1] The leaflet ‘Changes to your health records’ states that “anyone who has access to your records… must be directly involved in caring for you”. THIS IS UNTRUE: the Department’s own documents show that government officials and many others will have access “in the public interest”, “by statute” (remember Clause 152!) or by court order.

[2] The NHS Confidentiality Campaign website is at www.nhsconfidentiality.org

[3] You do not need to opt out again. The NHS Confidentiality Campaign’s and our opt out letter use the same mechanism to prevent your details being uploaded as GPs are currently being told to use. So if you have opted out already and haven’t moved to a different practice, you should be fine. If for any reason your practice asks you to use the ‘official’ form, simply ask them to provide one – or to respect your clearly stated wishes in the form you have given, which provides all the same information. More than likely, your doctor is on your side. ——

*++ STOP PRESS : LONDON DAY OF ACTION – STOP THE ID CARD CON *++

This Saturday 13th March, NO2ID volunteers will be leafleting and spreading the message ‘Don’t be a Guinea-pig’ to young people and others in and around central London. We’ll be targeting various tube stations, student Halls of Residence and also doing a run of ‘alternative’ shops, which are likely to have a lot of customers in the relevant age range.

As with our Manchester days of action, groups are coming to London from around the country – and if you’d like to join us, we’d be delighted.

Start time: 11:30am, Saturday 13th March 2010 Assemble at: Ossulston Street Tenants and Residents Hall, Ossulston Street, London NW1 1EU

For more details, please ring Matty Mitford on 07500 836 461 or send her an e-mail at local.groups@no2id.net

What just happened?

+ Soviet Union No ID no entry policy +

News that the Soviet Union is planning to introduce authoritarian ID checks for drinkers in Consett, County Durham may sound like the plot of a dodgy spy novel – but it’s true. A ‘No ID No Entry’ scheme is being proposed in Consett which would mean visitors to the Soviet Union bar would have to have their passport or driving licence scanned into a computer system before they can enter. The system called ‘Clubscan’ is increasingly being rolled out across the UK as civil liberties are traded for booze. Of course if enough customers refuse to submit to these arbitrary ID checks then the clubs and pubs will have to remove the systems. See www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/consett/5033467.ID_proposal_for_drinkers_welcomed_by_bar_owner/ and www.idscan.co.uk/uk_products_clubscan.php

+ UK ranked 6 in global list of repressive regimes +

A report from the US internet security company Cryptohippie puts the UK at number six in the list of the world’s most repressive regimes in terms of the electronic surveillance of its citizens. The report ‘The Electronic Police State, 2010 National Rankings’ says: “The UK is aggressively building the world of 1984 in the name of stopping ‘anti-social’ activities. Their populace seems unable or unwilling to restrain the government”. The report defines an electronic police state as being characterised by “State use of electronic technologies to record, organize, search and distribute forensic evidence against its citizens”. The report can be downloaded at https://secure.cryptohippie.com/pubs/EPS-2010.pdf

+ German eID launch prompts identity theft concerns +

4th March was Germany’s Day of the New Identity Card. And if you didn’t know that, neither did most Germans. The eIDs are to be phased in from 1st November. Holders of the new cards will be able “not only to identify themselves to the authorities but also to make purchases on the Internet and electronically sign e-mails”. The eID is also “to contain employee data about employment relationships”. All of which raises the spectre of identity theft — a touchy subject ever since 2006, when supergeek Lukas Grunwald cloned a German ePassport in front of admirers in Las Vegas. That took less than £100 worth of legally bought equipment. The ePassport’s Basic Access Code has been deemed too simple for use on the German eID card, so a new protocol has been developed involving multi-layered access to the data on the card’s RFID chip. The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) points out that: “a number of different identities are simultaneously stored on the radio chip”. The card readers used by the authorities will have access to all of them. “That is why, over the past three years, security experts have repeatedly asked the federal government how it intends to ensure that such readers, together with their software, can be used solely by the authorities and not by criminals…” Quizzed by the FAZ, a spokesman for the federal IT security office said the software “will certainly not be made publicly available”. But, he conceded, “that’s not to say software can’t be produced that would implement this procedure”. This is not the FAZ’s first foray into ID issues. In a detailed story on the British surveillance state, it noted “growing resistance to ID card plans” in the UK. But it held out one consolation to ID card guinea pigs – they have got themselves “a rare collector’s item”.

+ Birmingham Airport introduces face recognition +

Birmingham Airport has introduce new face recognition gates (currently optional) which can be used by adults with a biometric passport from the UK or EU. To enter the gate the passenger places their passport on a reader which reads the passport data and checks them against national and international watch lists, the passenger’s face is then matched against the digital image stored on the passport. The same technology is being used on ID cards which are increasingly morphing into the passport. Will Heynes, operations director at Birmingham International Airport told the ‘thebusinessdesk.com’ website that: “we are pleased to be working with the UK Border Agency to provide a positive image for the five million people that arrive into the country each year through Birmingham Airport.”

What’s next?

*+ TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK +*
In the run-up to the election, you may be visited by canvassers of one or more parties. PLEASE DON’T FORGET to tell them that one of your major concerns is the ID scheme and the database state. It’s just one small way in which you can help keep candidates in your constituency aware of our issue – and that it is of local concern.

***+ Call for North West Volunteers +*
If you fancy doing something practical then we have a large supply of our new “Don’t be a Guinea Pig” leaflets, that warn of the dangers of being foolish enough to volunteer for the scheme. Ensuring as many people as possible are aware of what they are really signing up for helps us ensure people are not conned by the marketing. If you fancy helping out then email north@no2id.net with the number you would be happy to distribute and we will send them to you. Even better, come along to the next meeting of your local group to pick some up and meet some like-minded people. Check out www.no2id.net/localgroups/ for a list of groups in your area.

*+ Have your say – National Identity Service Public Panels +*
The UK Identity and Passport Service (UKIPS) is setting up public panels around the country to get the views of members of the public as they build the “National Identity Service”. Public panels will be made up of 11 members, and will meet for half a day up to three times a year. The aim is to “produce an Identity Rights Charter. This will set out the rights and responsibilities people, businesses and the Government have under the NIS”. To join a panel you can fill in the online form at http://www.ips.gov.uk/publicpanel or call 020 3356 8174. More details at www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/1189.htm

“ID” in the news

*+ Home Sec says 17m ID cards in circulation by 2017 – The Register 11/3/10 +*
The government expects to have issued 17 million ID cards by 2017, Home Secretary Alan Johnson told the Commons yesterday. Johnson was responding to a question from his Tory shadow, Chris Grayling, who asked: “What proportion of the estimated 49 million products to be issued between April 2012 and March 2017 … will be identity cards?” www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/11/id_card_forecast/

*+ Government spends £11k on ID card ‘branding’ – The Register 10/3/10 +*
The government still seems to be shying away from spending too much money advertising its ID card and National ID Register schemes. www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/10/id_marketing/

*+ BMA says ‘suspend SCR roll-out’ – e-Health Insider 10/3/10 +*
The British Medical Association has written to the government calling for the roll-out of the Summary Care Record to be suspended. In a letter to health minister Mike O’Brien, the doctors’ union claims the roll-out of the SCR has been accelerated before sufficient independent evaluation of the pilot areas has taken place. www.e-health-insider.com/news/5716/bma_says_%27suspend_scr_roll-out%27

*+ Northerners give up ID cards for Lent figures suggest – The Register 9/3/10 +*
In a Commons answer yesterday, ID minister Meg Hillier said that as of March 3 there have been 4,307 applications for identity cards from people living in the northwest of England, including Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria. www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/09/id_card_numbers/

*+ Letter errors fuel SCR roll-out row – e-Health Insider 9/3/10 +*
Local medical committees have reported that their attempts to include opt-out forms in information sent to patients has been blocked. Meanwhile, a glitch at a mailing house used by NHS Connecting for Health has led to patients receiving information packs addressed to other patients. www.e-health-insider.com/news/5715/letter_errors_fuel_scr_roll-out_row

*+ Brown renews commitment to DNA database – Computing 2/3/10 +*
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has renewed his commitment to the National Police DNA Database in a major speech promising to put new measures against anti-social behaviour at the heart of his General Election campaign. www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2258797/brown-dna-database

*+ Q&A: The ID card commissioner talks cards and controversy – IT Pro 2/3/10 +*
The identity card scheme has been controversial since the idea was first mooted, called intrusive, unnecessary, expensive and another addition to the UK’s Big Brother state. www.itpro.co.uk/621052/q-a-the-id-card-commissioner-talks-cards-and-controversy

*+ ID cards : well-intentioned, but no guarantees – Public technology 1/3/10 +*
The man in charge of overseeing the UK’s ID card scheme is confident that all data will be stored securely, but admits that even after three months study he cannot give the scheme a full bill of health. www.publictechnology.net/sector/id-cards-well-intentioned-no-guarantees

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter – Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )

*+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS + *

To see if there’s a group in your area check our list at www.no2id.net/localgroups/ Or, if you’re interested in starting a group yourself, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net to discuss what’s involved and what we have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

_*+ Blackburn +*_

*+ 15th March – Blackburn NO2ID Official Launch Meeting +*
Monday 15th March, 7:30pm at meeting room 1 in Blackburn Central Library, Town Hall St, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 1AH. We are pleased to announce Blackburn NO2ID’s official launch meeting! The meeting is free to attend and after a short talk by our North of England coordinator, Frankie the new Blackburn coordinator will be leading a group discussion on getting the campaign going within Blackburn. If you would like to attend this meeting please email Blackburn@no2id.net

If you are interested in the work of this group, please join the Blackburn mailing group at lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.blackburn

_*+ Cambridge +*_

*+ 27th March – Cambridge NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 27th February, in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall (www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS) from 1pm (note earlier time). Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you’d like to help.

*+ 7th April – Cambridge NO2ID Pub Meeting + *
Wednesday 7th April, 7:30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/CYXNES29) for Cambridge NO2ID’s usual monthly pub meeting.

*+ 10th April – Cambridge NO2ID Stall +*
Saturday 10th April, in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall (www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS) from 1pm. Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you’d like to help.

For more details email andrew.watson@no2id.net or call 07710 469624.

_**__*+ Canterbury +*_

To stay up to date join the Canterbury NO2ID mailing list on: lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.canterbury

_*+ Derby +*_

*+ 16th March – Derby NO2ID Monthly Meeting +*
Tuesday 16th March, 7:30pm in the cafe bar of the Quad Arts Centre in the city centre. All welcome. Any queries, contact Nick Wray, Local Co-ordinator – derby@no2id.net or 07763 932 176

_*+ Dorking +*_

*+ 13th & 20th March – Dorking NO2ID Street Stalls, Crawley +*
Saturday 13th/20th March in Crawley, contact south.east@no2id.net for more info.

*+ 25th March – Election Question Time on Civil Liberties +*
Thursday 25th March, 7.30pm at the Civic Hall, Crawley. We’ll be holding 3 street stalls in Crawley and much else to promote this event.

If you would like to help or get involved, email Geoff Cox at dorking@no2id.net or come along to our monthly get-togethers.

_*+ Dover +*_*

+ 25th March – Dover NO2ID Annual Branch Meeting in Dover +*
Thursday 25th March, 8pm start, at the White Horse pub, St James Street, Dover (bottom of Castle Hill Road, by Leisure Centre Car Park). We have the pub’s back room.*

*+ 29th March – Dover NO2ID Annual Branch Meeting in Folkestone +*
Monday 29th March, 8.30pm start, at The Bar Below, The View, Aspen Terrace, Folkestone (by roundabout at eastern end of The Leas). We have the basement bar — enter main bar and turn left for stairs.*

*All members and supporters welcome. After a very small amount of “formal business”, there’ll be discussion and planning of activities and items of current interest; an address from Matty Mitford, NO2ID’s Local Groups Officer, visiting from London, and at the Folkestone meeting only, a showing of a comedy DVD about ID cards. Further information from Ian Taylor: dover@no2id.net

*To stay up to date with Dover NO2ID join our mailing list on: lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.dover

_**__*+ Edinburgh + *_

*Pre Election Hustings Planned*
The main topic at our last Edinburgh group meeting (23rd February) was planning for the run up to the general election. It was decided to organise hustings in collaboration with other party-independent voluntary groups and to target a single local constituency, either Edinburgh East or North. Planning continues: anyone with relevant expertise or experience is most welcome to join in.

*+ 13th March – POWER 2010 campaign stall to join us +*
Saturday 13th March, from 12 noon onwards. The POWER 2010 campaign will be setting up a stall alongside ours at our usual venue opposite the Balmoral Hotel in Princes Street. * + Saturdays 1pm – 3pm – Edinburgh **NO2ID** Street Stall +* Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New volunteers – please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

_**_ _*+ Exeter +*_

If you would like to join the Exeter group, please email exeter@no2id.net and say hello! Do also join the Exeter group mailing list at lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.exeter

** _*+ Hull & East Riding +*_

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on attending the meeting, please join the Hull mailing group here: www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hull

_**__*+ Ipswich +*_* *

If you are interested in the work of the Ipswich group, please join their mailing list on: www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.ipswich

_*+ Lancaster +*_

*+ 20th March – Lancaster NO2ID Meeting and Street Stall +*
Saturday 20th March, 12pm in The Robert Gillow, Market Street, Lancaster (maps.google.co.uk/places/gb/lancaster/market-st/64/-the-robert-gillow?gl=uk). Following the success of the first Lancaster NO2ID street stall we are planning another meeting to be followed directly by our second stall (weather permitting). The meeting will be an informal and friendly discussion about all recent progressions in the ID card scheme, and the NO2ID campaign – an excellent way for new members to meet some like-minded people and for everyone to keep up-to-date with and discuss what’s happening nationally, and what you feel should be happening locally. Lots of good campaign suggestions were raised last time and hopefully we’ll be able to build and expand upon those.

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on attending the meeting, please join the Lancaster mailing group at www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.lancaster

_*+ Leeds +*_

*+ 27th March – Leeds NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 27th March from 1.30pm, on Briggate, probably opposite Harvey Nichols or thereabouts (weather permitting). Meet at 1pm. Drop by and offer your services to the cause, or email leeds@no2id.net.

If you are interested in the work of this group, please join the Leeds mailing group at lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.leeds

_*+ Liverpool +*_

*Co-ordinator Wanted for Liverpool NO2ID* ‘Don’t be a Guinea Pig’ leaflets are now being distributed across the city by people who have come forward to help with the campaign. A special thanks goes to Cllrs Radford and Keaveney for their efforts in this regard. Yet the City still lacks a group that meets regular and needs someone to take on the coordinator role. If you are interested in this position please email James Elsdon-Baker our North of England coordinator on north@no2id.net

The city also has a local NO2ID mailing list you can join, which then enables you to contact other supporters in the area to start planning activities together, join the Liverpool mailing group here: no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.liverpool

_*+ Manchester +*_

*+ 13th March – Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th March, from 2pm-4pm in St Ann’s Square, Manchester (down near the big Marks and Spencer), to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. We’ll be collecting signatures for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch with the campaign. We’ll meet in the square itself to set up shop; feel free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You don’t need any experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile! manchester.no2id.net/content/street-stall-march-2010 www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=346562696111

*+ 7th April – Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +*
Wednesday 10th March, 7pm-9pm in the Salmon Rooms at the Lass O’Gowrie pub, Manchester. Unfortunately this room is on the first floor; we will attempt to secure stair-free access for future meetings. We will be in the bar beforehand, enjoying the food and drink, so look out for us if you arrive early. If you arrive after the start, just ask the bar staff to direct you upstairs.

*+ 10th April – Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 10th April, from 2pm-4pm in St. Ann’s Square, Manchester (down near the big Marks and Spencer) for our regular public information stall.

*+ 8th May – Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +*
Saturday 8th May, 12:30pm-2pm in the Moon Under Water pub on Deansgate. In a change from the regular schedule, Manchester NO2ID will hold a meeting before our Saturday stall. We will probably be towards the back of the pub, and possibly upstairs.

*+ 8th May – Manchester*
Saturday 8th May, 2pm-4pm in St. Ann’s Square in Manchester (down near the big Marks and Spencer). Manchester NO2ID will be running a public information stall two days after the likely General Election. Help us keep up the pressure on the new Government! We’ll meet in the square itself to set up shop; feel free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You don’t need any experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile!

_*+ Newcastle +*_

*+ 13th April – Newcastle NO2ID Meeting +* Tuesday 13th April, 7:30pm at the Jazz Cafe, Pink Lane (opposite Newcastle central railway station). Please email Newcastle@no2id.net for further information.

If you are interested in the work of this group, please join the Newcastle mailing group at www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.newcastle

**_*+ Norwich +*_ * +

12th March – Norwich NO2ID on Future Radio Community Chest Show +*
Friday 12th March at 11am we’ll be on Future Radio talking about the campaign so tune in to 96.9FM or listen online at www.futureradio.co.uk and tell your friends!

*+ 13th March – Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th March, 1-3pm at The Haymarket, Gentleman’s Walk. Come along to tell the public why ID cards are an intrusive waste of money. The more the merrier!

*+ 16th March – Norwich NO2ID Meeting +*
Tuesday 16th March, 7:30-9pm, Norwich NO2ID will be meeting at The Workshop Cafe (opposite The Black Horse), 53 Earlham Road, NR2 3AD. Join us to develop general election tactics and more. We’re planning a few days out to local areas to do stalls, so if you’d like the stall to head your way, please get in touch.

*+ 27th March – NHS Database Day of Action +*
Saturday 27th March, 12pm at the Castle Meadow entrance to the Castle Mall. We will raise public awareness about opting out with banners, flyers, handouts and hearty discussion.

If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join their mailing list on: www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

_*+ Oxford +*_

*+ 27th March – NO2ID Oxford Street Stall +*
Saturday 27th February, 11am by St Michael’s Tower on Cornmarket Street for a couple of hours talking to people and gathering signatures.

*+ 1st April – NO2ID Oxford Meeting +*
Thursday 1st April, from 8pm at the Mitre pub on the High Street for a drink and a chat about campaigning opportunities in the run up to the general election — everyone is welcome.

See the website for more info on Oxford NO2ID: no2id-oxford.org.uk/

_*+ Portsmouth +*_

Join the Portsmouth mailing list at lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.portsmouth/

_*+ Reading +*_* *

Contact Reading NO2ID on reading@no2id.net or join our web group at groups.yahoo.com/group/Reading-No2ID/

_*+ Sheffield +*_

*+ 24th March – Sheffield NO2ID Meeting +*
Wednesday 24th March, 7:30pm at the Harlequin pub, 108 Nursery St, Sheffield, S3 8GG (maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=s3+8gg). The meeting room is upstairs. We usually congregate in the bar shortly before the meeting. Please ask the bar staff if you can’t find us.

Please join the mailing list If you haven’t already: lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.sheffield

_*+ St Helens & Wigan +*_

*+ 23rd March – St Helens & Wigan NO2ID Inaugural Meeting +*
Tuesday 23rd March, 7pm at St.Helens Central library. Everyone opposed to government ID card plans is welcome to the inaugural meeting of St Helens & Wigan NO2ID. Please email Terry Vasey, the new co-ordintor at st.helens@no2id.net for further information and to confirm attendance.

Anyone interested in the work of this new group should join the St.Helens mailing group at lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.st-helens

_*+ Watford +*_* *

Please contact Colin Simmons on watford@no2id.net if you are interested in giving a couple of hours a month to join us.

_*+ York +*_ * +

13th March & 20th March – York NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th & 20th March, from 10.30-12.30 on Parliament street. In a push to raise awareness of the campaign York NO2ID are running streets stalls every Saturday before the election. Email Ross at York@no2id.net or call 07870 529 299 if you can lend a hand.

We are also in the middle of a large leaflet delivery exercise – any help gratefully received!

You can join our Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=54041617189&ref=ts

Anyone interested in the work of this group should join the York mailing group at www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.york

Publication details: © NO2ID 2010 – This document may be freely redistributed in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.

NO2ID, Box 412, 19-21 Crawford Street, LONDON W1H 1PJ