UK not ready for biometric ID cards

Although the Queen's Speech confirmed the government's determination to push forward with national ID cards, industry experts warned that major technological issues could derail the scheme.

Mark Blowers, senior research director at independent UK technology analyst Butler Group, believes that the biometric technology behind the proposed ID card scheme must be looked at more closely in order for the project to have a chance of succeeding.

"Although [Home Secretary] David Blunkett's plans for the introduction of a national ID card are well intentioned, Butler Group believes the use of biometrics on ID cards requires more in-depth study," he said.

"There are still a number of issues which have the potential to derail Blunkett's plans to tackle crime and terrorism."

While agreeing that the use of biometrics will make the cards inherently more secure, Blowers warned that it is the practicalities of its use that cause concern.

There are four clear areas that Butler Group believes must be addressed:

Cost: The addition of biometrics greatly increases the cost, not just of card production and the need for specialist readers, but for registration.

Technology: Biometrics is still an emerging technology with worries about rejection rates. Some biometric technologies have yet to achieve acceptable read accuracy.

Privacy: The planned holding of the information on a central database gives rise to concerns about who will be allowed access.

Scalability: The use of biometrics on this scale has never been attempted before.