ID card rush must consider technology

Database management and other technical issues must not be forgotten in the rush to push through UK identity cards, warn experts.

At his monthly press conference last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair said ID cards are 'very much on the political agenda, probably more quickly even than we anticipated.'

And reports over the weekend suggest that Cabinet discussions are no longer over whether the scheme should go ahead, but if it should be compulsory or not.

But deputy information commissioner Jonathan Bamford told Computing that the plan for a central database must be properly thought through.

'If the government rushes to put together the database on which ID cards are issued and people feel they can't trust it, then it won't serve its purpose,' he said.

Political pressures need to take second place to technical realities, says Nick Kalisperas, egovernment programme manager at supplier body Intellect.

'Technical and logistical considerations must come first,' he said.

IT security expert Peter Sommer added: 'We need to get a clear specification of what this exercise is supposed to achieve - not only what the cards are going to do but also what the supporting infrastructure is going to be.'