14 DAY TRIAL // So, it's true - good things do come in small packages! MPs in the UK have been praising the "little chip that could" and the people who have been behind it. As Kablenet informs, they've said that the Identity and Passport Service is an excellent example of successful project management and procurement and also urged the Office of Government Commerce to spread the lessons learned from the project across the government.
The chip I've been talking about is embedded in Britain's e-passports and is a great technology used for authentication. It's very hard to fake copies of it and it cannot be read by an unauthorized machine. But the English are not stopping here - they're going to improve the chip even more, and make it contain other things like fingerprints and photos.
The IPS's motto is "Everyone's unique. Let's keep it that way". And to be frank, though ID theft isn't an issue as big as, say, wallet stealing, not because the consequences are not severe, but because it doesn't happen too often, it's best to stay protected against it. Better defend yourself against a possible danger than stand around doing nothing and hoping you're lucky enough to never get hit by an identity thief. It's no wonder the IPS has been congratulated by MPs - keeping "everyone unique" is no easy task, and if you've read the recent news, then you know that they're doing a pretty good job at it!
Furthermore, the General Register Office (GRO) in England and Wales will become part of the Identity and Passport Service from 1 April 2008. IPS Chief Executive James Hall said: "The General Register Office joining the Identity and Passport Service is welcome news. Working as one organization will allow us to explore the possibility of integrating passport, identity card and life event registration processes. This would reduce red tape and make life easier for people, as well as strengthen the integrity of our systems."
So, a small chip will make a big difference in protecting IDs in the UK. They're also striving to make the best of this, and I, for one, can hardly wait for my government to take similar measures. Why risk, when you can stay secure?