Earth: Mostly Harmless

Still want ID cards, folks?

February 28, 2008 on 6:42 pm |
Categories: Uncategorized

This story reminded me of an occasion about three years ago when I was photographed by a a budget airline (BMI or Ryanair, I’m not sure) check-in desk operator for a domestic flight from Bournemouth. They had a camera placed just above the desk. I wasn’t that happy about it at the time, but since I was on my own and on somebody else’s dime to get home I felt less able to challenge it.

The notion that fingerprints or photographs should be required for domestic travel is really offensive. To be honest I don’t see any more reason for it in international travel, unless you’re suspected of a crime - but that’s trickier legal ground to fight on.

We have to start asking serious questions about where Gordon Brown is headed on issues like these. His government is leading a particularly pernicious and deceitful campaign aimed at softening people up and getting them to accept routine ’security’ checks in preparation for the introduction of identity cards.

Routine fingerprinting at Heathrow provokes outrage

Civil Liberties campaigners have accused airport chiefs of sneaking in mandatory fingerprinting of passengers on domestic routes without proper consultation. Heathrow Airport has quietly introduced compulsory fingerprinting and photographic profiling of passengers on domestic routes, including to Glasgow and Edinburgh, ahead of the opening of its fifth terminal late next month.

The move has already caused disquiet among some passengers who were handed leaflets warning they would be barred from their flights unless they co-operated.

Anti-ID card campaigners have demanded to know why no public announcement was made and fear compulsory fingerprinting is smoothing the path for the controversial scheme’s introduction UK-wide.

The British Airports Authority (BAA), which operates Heathrow, claims the profiling is needed because the new terminal will have a single departure lounge for domestic and international travellers.