Investigate the Pros and Cons of ID Cards

Using the internet, research exactly what is being proposed by the UK government and what the objections are.
*Write a list of all of the ICT that is involved in the UK's proposed card scheme
*State what the purpose of the ID card is meant to be
*Evaluate whether it will meet this purpose
*Enumerate the advantages of such a system and the drawbacks
*Make your personal recommendation as to whether we should have ID cards

ID cards are meant to be issued in 2009, young people can have them on a volentry basis. The will include all the general personal details, like age, gender and of course name.
All kinds of ICT methods will be used in the production and use of these cards. The main use of ICT will be on the finger print prints, and will be read by biometric scanners, all so you picture can be read using your irris patterns (eye scan).
The purpose of ID cards are to prevent or at least decrease the use of other cards for identity theft, also its to stop teenagers getting alcohol or cigerettes. Also it will be used to indentify UK citizens when they apply for benefits or government based things.
The ID cards will not meet their purposes as they are given to teenagers on a voulentry basis, until this is enforced, it will never be at its full potential.

Advantages of ID cards:
- There will be no mistaking of who someone is
- Easy to identify people in foreign countries
- All the legal age limits can be enforced much easier
- A reduction in illegal immigrants or asylem seakers

Disadvantages/Drawbacks of ID Cards:
-Manufacturing cost for the emmense ammount that will be needed will increase taxes
-If you forget your wallet and you do not look 18 as an example, when you want to buy beer for a party, your stuffed
-Ethics may be withdrawn due to the nature of the informating shown
-Discrimination may be an issue as the cards need to show your ethinic background

In my opinion the cards should be put into action and they will decrease alot of fraud and misconseption of age but there will always be ways to bypass the system, and there are still many flaws to cover.