Stop the Database State

Manchester NO2ID Meeting

Saturday 10th July 2010, 1:00 pm. The Moon Under Water, Deansgate, Manchester.

Minutes of meeting
=========================

The contents of the recent national NO2ID newsletters were discussed, and the minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

Action points from last meeting:

ACTION: Dave to send information on summary care medical records to the public email list.

ACTION: Helen to contact The Big Opt Out for further information [on SCR and opting out].

ACTION: Helen to provide Dave’s NO2ID contact details to the Practice Manager of her GP’s surgery, who is supportive of our concerns. [DONE]

ACTION: Dave to contact the Cornerhouse cinema to arrange a screening of Erasing David, similar to the one that we held when Taking Liberties was released.

ACTION: Helen to contact the Open Media Society at the University of Manchester, regarding a possible screening [of Erasing David] in September. [could not find contact details via UMSU]

ACTION: Dave to set up a NO2ID email address for Helen.

ACTION: Dave to draft a letter to the new MPs, and Helen to email it to the MPs.

ACTION: Helen to access and test sys admin features on our website. [DONE]

ACTION: Dave to work on website and liaise with HQ re newsletters.

ACTION: Dave to contact Paul re [airport ID cards].

Summary care records (SCR)
==========================

The uploading of patients’ primary care medical records to the SCR is still continuing, despite obvious privacy and security concerns. We are actively campaigning on this issue at present, and working closely with The Big Opt Out.

ACTION: Helen to contact The Big Opt Out re various opt-out provisions.

Regional Co-ordinators’ Meeting
===============================

As Manchester and North West No2ID Co-ordinator, Dave attended the No2ID Regional Co-ordinators’ Meeting in London on 13th June 2010. This was attended by many other regional co-ordinators and the No2ID Advisory Board.

The legal structure of No2ID (central campaign) is being changed from an unincorporated association to a company limited by guarantee. At present, local No2ID groups are not affiliated to central No2ID, but have the same aims as central No2ID and use the No2ID logo with permission. There are plans to centralize website resources. No2ID will have one public website, with a section for each local group. The format of the national newsletter is also being changed to incorporate local information that is relevant to the subscriber.

Future campaigns
================

As a campaign, we need to make the public aware that we’re not just “against ID cards”. We are against the Database State – which manifests itself in schemes such as: the SCR; ANPR camera and the surveillance of car journeys; and the fingerprinting of children in schools. We are for: privacy and security, and issues related to improving both of these.

The ID Scheme was high-profile in the local and national media, so it was often easy to engage the public in ID-related discourse. However, other Database State issues such as the SCR are more obscure, with a much lower media profile. We need to inform the public that we oppose the Database State and its intrusive practices, not just a mere piece of plastic, or a scheme that is due to be scrapped soon anyway.

No2ID is even involved in Database State issues at the EU level. We briefly discussed whether to campaign on macro- vs. micro-details of data sharing, and what this means to the average lay person who knows little of the technical issues involved (e.g. IT problems). Although Labour appeared to “gold-plate” EU legislation, providing us with less privacy than EU law requires, we are yet to see what changes will be made under the coalition government. Also, we are aware of the amount of misinformation on the internet (in any subject) that is available to members of the public. No2ID has a map of the Database State.

No2ID is the civil liberties campaign most recognized by the public. The “ID” is a large part of the image. This raises issues regarding possible new changes of name or logo. The petition sheet needs rewording, due to a change of government and the scrapping of the ID Scheme.

ACTION: Helen and Dave to rewrite the petition text.

ACTION: Helen to take over the writing of press releases until September 2010, and to liaise with Dave re this.

Street stall
============

This will take place in St Ann’s Square, Manchester, from 2-4pm this afternoon. Dave has produced some information leaflets about confidentiality of medical records, and some flyers from No2ID HQ about how the ID card scheme has been “not scrapped enough”.

Upcoming events
===============

Street stall, 2-4pm, St Ann’s Square, this afternoon.
Next meeting: Saturday 8th August 2010, 1-2pm, at The Moon Under Water, Deansgate, Manchester.

AOB
===

Thanks to Dave for discovering that approximately 10% of all ID Scheme ID cards in circulation are possessed by airside airport workers, who were given the card (and the privilege of losing their privacy) for free.

We forecast that the Identity Documents Bill will achieve royal assent in September 2010, and will come into force shortly after that. Then the ID Scheme will be legally scrapped! We plan to hold a celebratory event – details tba.

No2ID HQ is planning to hold an inaugural conference next year. This may incorporate the AGM and public awareness and training in Database State issues. Details tba.

[Ends]