Migrants soft target for ID control

BOBBY GILMORE (Letters, November 29) is understandably concerned by the plans to fingerprint workers from outside the UK, but the reasons for these measures may run deeper than he imagines.

Within the EU there is mounting pressure to introduce an ID card to be carried by all European citizens.

The fact that several countries are happily free from such a horrendous affront to personal liberty is something that Brussels is determined to stamp out.

Simply foisting ID cards on a population used to freedom from state interference will doubtless result in great and justified objection, so a more subtle approach is called for.

The fingerprint (for those who have it) is a unique identifier — it acts as a sort of cardless ID and if a database of fingerprints is to be created, then we have a mechanism for eventually tracking and monitoring each citizen, as well as social control. Such a scheme needs to start somewhere and migrant workers are the softest target because their plight will evoke little sympathy.

Unfortunately, fingerprints are not difficult to forge and once fraudulently used by someone else, they become irreplaceable, unlike a PIN number or password.

So it is not a good idea to use them for verification purposes, nor is it a good idea to have so much information on one database as security becomes a major headache.

The loss of 25 million personal details in Britain, as well as the problems that AIB have encountered recently, indicate the basic foolishness of the whole idea.

Justin Roberts

Ballynagleragh

Lattin

Co Tipperary