Fels Smartcard Warning

June 19th, 2006: "We also have to look carefully at the nature of the card, the technology decisions that are going to be taken about it, to limit its functions", head of government smartcard task force hits out.

Speaking following the release of the first Australian 'Access Card Consumer and Privacy Taskforce' report, the task force head, Professor Alan Fel's has highlighted privacy and 'function creep' as major concerns for the proposed $1.09-billion card.

The report - to which Fel's has called for response by July 27th - prompted Professor Fels to tell ABC radio's Samantha Donovan, "There are probably some steps that can be taken, both in the technology and maybe in legislation, that would maximise consumer control. For example, maybe there could be a law that prohibits anyone requiring you to produce your Commonwealth Access Card as proof of identity.

"We also have to look carefully at the nature of the card, the technology decisions that are going to be taken about it, to limit its functions. You see, if the functions of the card are limited at the start, then the potential for it becoming a national ID card is limited in the future."

The card - which some are already calling 'Australia Card II' in reference to the mooted national ID card of the 1980s - is due to replace some 17 others if or when it becomes a reality in 2008. The $1.09-billion provisional budget is sure to attract interest from a range of IT and document management sources.

Is the Austrlian smartcard good business? Comment here.

Related Article:
National Identity Card By 2010?