No sinister plot in method to deliver more efficient state services

Am I the only one in Ireland who believes that we are going to bizarre lengths over the whole issue of privacy? Am I the only one who thinks that a national identity card is, in principle, a bloody good idea, and the sooner we all have one the better?

I know I’m in a minority of one in my house. My wife thinks most of social media is a scourge, because it’s a potential invader of privacy, and she is absolutely convinced that my attitude to the whole subject suggests that I’m bonkers (actually, there’s a few subjects that have convinced her over the years that I’m not playing with a full deck, but that’s another story.)

For example, I’ve always believed that one of the great things about having a smartphone is that if you get lost, people have a better chance of finding you. I love the idea that if you’re on Facebook, you’re always getting messages about things you’re interested in, because the evil geniuses behind it have developed these algorithms that get to know you and send advertising in your direction.