The Home Office in London. Photograph: Steve Cadman/Flickr

The Home Office appears to have lost control over its own policy on population surveillance. In an interview with the London File, the Home Office said it did not know whether private businesses will be able to access the national identity register, a database that will hold citizens' personal information once identity cards are implemented in Britain.

The Home Office website, however, Home Office website states clearly that:   "Government agencies and private businesses will be able to check information held on the national identity register."

The Home Office press office was surprised about the content and was unable to confirm this information.

“That is interesting, I have to have a look at that and get back to you. But I do not think that it is correct”, said Eva Perkins, a press officer at the Home Office.
The National Identity Register national identity register will hold information such as people’s immigration status, fingerprints and addresses, and will be linked directly to the ID cards each British citizen will have to hold under
the Identity Card Act.

“The national identity register will give everyone a single number and link to all the data accumulated about you in different places.” said Nick Hoy of No2ID No2ID, a grassroots group campaigning against the implementation of ID cards in Britain. “Once you have it, the police, the council, NHS, and then the private sector will have access to it. Companies will be able to check who you are, if you have been arrested etc. It is a real business that is being developed over our identity and the access to it.”


Opponents fear such information could be used by companies to develop targeted advertising campaigns, or establish whether people can be given a mortgage or not. They see a danger that businesses will be able to use the information in whatever way suits their commercial interests, which may not be in the best interests of the public.