EU should keep out of national ID strategy
Dear Editor, Following EU proposals on high-tech ID cards, civil liberties groups have said the proposals would create an EU ID card register, internet surveillance systems, satellite surveillance, automated exit/entry border systems operated by machines reading biometrics and risk profiling systems.
Europe’s justice ministers are due to hold talks on 15 July on “domestic security policy” and surveillance network proposals. These are known in EU circles as “Stockholm Programme”. The aim is to complete work by the end of 2009 on the EU’s first-ever internal security programme.
The European Justice and Security Commissioner has publicly declared that the aim is to develop a domestic security strategy for the EU, once regarded as strictly national home affairs area of policy. National frontiers should no longer restrict their activities, the commissioner said.
Conservative MP Mark Francois, Conservative spokesman on Europe, has demanded immediate clarity on where the government stands on this. These are potentially dangerous proposals which could interfere with Britain’s internal security, he said.
Big Brother’s son is now watching you.
James Benton
Allcroft Road, Hall Green, Birmingham
