Comments on: Gordon Brown on liberty

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:36:32 +0000

Am I reading too much into these three quotes?

And on those occasions where we already have to identify ourselves – when we open a bank account or withdraw money, pay for something, cross borders or register with a GP – citizens themselves are recognising that it is in their interests to have a modern and secure means of identification which better protects against crime, fraud and illegal immigration and also protects each of them as individuals, their property but also their privacy.

and

depends not just on natural wealth or on walls or fences but on our ability to use information – in industry, in our schools and universities, at our borders, in our police forces and intelligence services. And it is clear that we can use DNA to help solve crimes

and

Today we have the benefit not just of the fingerprint technology of the last century but advances in biometric technology in this, that can protect individuals and society against crime, fraud, illegal immigration and terrorism – and protect for each and every individual our own identity.

the last, with the juxtapositioning of biometrics to protect each indivduals’ ‘identity,’ seems to me to be an implicit call for some form of national biometric database.

By: Nicko

Nicko — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:42:41 +0000

It’s a fascinating speech for the depth of understanding it goes through before proposing national ID cards and a DNA database.
While not a huge fan of Gordon Brown, I’m hard-pressed to find anything in the speech “proposing national ID cards and a DNA database”, and as such I think your comment is more than a little disingenuous.
On ID cards he suggests that they have legislated to require “proper accountability to Parliament” (though to date the executive hasn’t been very accountable in terms of budgeting or reporting of progress) but other than that there seems to be nothing in the speech promoting the concept. On DNA (and other biometrics) he merely states that new technology is an important tool in solving crimes, but I don’t see a word suggesting that there should be a national register.
Did I miss something, or was the attack merely there to promote an editorial agenda?

By: Colin McKay

Colin McKay — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:22:04 +0000

Thanks for noticing. Brown’s speech has had its detractors in the days since, but you’re right in noting that not many politicians in any country would spend that much time talking about basic philosophical principles.
Colin McKay
Director of Communications
Office of the Privacy Commissioner