Source:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=a93ec036-ff8c-4346-a559-97bc33de72f0&k=45732

Related: Real ID/National ID Card -
http://www.prisonplanet.com/archives/realid/

Related: Big Brother Archive -
http://www.prisonplanet.com/archive_big_brother.html


Controversial ID cards have support of 53 per cent of Canadians: Study

Gregory Bonnell
Canadian Press
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The controversial idea of Canadians carrying a national identification
card that bears their personal information has the support of more than
half the country, a new study of public attitudes towards privacy
suggests.

The cards - strongly opposed by privacy commissioners and civil
libertarians despite calls for their use in the wake of the 9-11 terror
attacks - are considered a good idea by 53 per cent of Canadians,
according to a study released Monday by Queen's University.

Still, 48 per cent of the study's 1,001 Canadian respondents expressed
concern that post-9-11 laws aimed at protecting national security are
too intrusive - exposing a Canadian public "polarized" on issues of
privacy, said one of the researchers behind the study.

"It's a hotbed topic," said Linda Harling-Stalker, a post-doctoral
fellow at Queen's.

"The thing that we're really pointing out is the connection to
anti-terrorism laws as it relates to your sense of a breach of personal
information."

The study, which looked at how 9,000 people in eight countries view
surveillance and privacy, found Americans even more wary of post-9-11
legislation than Canadians.

The margin of error for the Canadian respondents portion of the study
was plus or minus 3.1 per cent.

While 48 per cent of respondents in Canada felt such laws intrude on
their privacy, that number rose to 57 per cent in the United States.

Although the United States is working on an ID card, only 44 per cent of
Americans agreed with the idea.

The global move toward ID cards makes the argument against them moot,
said Denis Coderre, the former immigration minister who spearheaded the
campaign to bring them to Canada.

"You have over 176 countries right now with a national ID card," said
Coderre, who called the Conservative government "short-sighted" for
suggesting an ID card program would be too expensive.

"The government won't have any choice, because at the end of the day it
will be imposed by international standards."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the ID cards are not an option
his government is leaning toward.

In 2003, Coderre proposed a plastic card that would contain not only
personal data but also biometric information - such as fingerprints or
retina scans.

"It's more than the technology," said Coderre.

"There's a social conscience that should be attached to it. ... We don't
want to create a (police state)."

The government agency issuing the cards would also become a central
repository for the personal information contained on them. That has
raised concerns from privacy commissioners and constitutional lawyers.

"It's a bad idea because we don't know exactly what will happen to the
information that's contained on the card," said lawyer Morris Manning,
who made submissions in 2003 to a Commons committee studying the issue.

"We have no assurance that the card itself will be used in a limited
fashion, and that the information that's stored cannot be accessed by
those whom we don't want to have access to it."

Some Canadians appear to share that concern.

While 53 per cent either "strongly" or "somewhat" agreed with the idea
of an ID card, only 43 per cent said they were confident Ottawa would be
able to safeguard the information from privacy abuses.

Overall, less than half of Canadians said they trusted the federal
government with their personal information, with the Americans at 38 per
cent.

Brazilians proved especially suspect, with only 20 per cent saying they
trust the government with their information.

By contrast, 63 per cent of Chinese respondents said they trusted their
government.

Earlier this month, a study released by the London-based Privacy
International ranked Germany and Canada the best defenders of privacy.

The Queen's University study, which asked questions on a number of
privacy-related issues, also found that two-thirds of Canadian
respondents were worried about providing personal information on
websites.

Also, 58 per cent of Canadians rejected racial profiling at airports for
security purposes while 48 per cent of Americans raised the same
objection.

Sooooo... do any of YOU want your own Global ID card?

Most likely to me in the Real World. I call this your own Slave
ID/United Nations Global ID Card.

I know I'm not going to accept this card for my safety or security.
Because in giving up my rights and liberties. I recieve NEITHER but
total Privacy lost in a High-Tech Surveilled Society.

Our whole world is becoming a Global Prison Grid....

A national ID card..$20
Postage costs to get the ID card.. $2.50
Believing the Gov't will safeguard your privacy...priceless(and
laughable)

"By contrast, 63 per cent of Chinese respondents said they trusted their
government."

DUUUUUHHHHH!!!!!

They have to trust their government. They would be the most likely to
abuse their people. So they wouldn't dare disagree.

In America we already have a National, ID card that's been around since
the 30s.

I'm not sure I like the Idea of an International or Globle, ID card
since I don't trust other governments with my info. such as China,
Russia, Brazil, etc.... With such corrupt governments they could use it
to exploit our national security. But I understand the idea of all
governments need to keep track of their undesirables for their national
security. But I would say no to it.

Ghostrecon

What,s the problem...I have a Military ID, a Social Security Card, A
Drivers License, and a Passport....they already know me.

Well actually I live in Cave ^_^ with a Laptop mind you.

So yeah!! one can say no bra!! ^_~

POWER TO THE RESISTANCE!!