Citizen Participation In Public Administration - Essay Example

Citizen Participation In Public Administration The balance of a democratic relationship between the state and the Government is determined by key factors like access and transparency. Effective use of ICT’s can improve citizen access to policy issues and encourage participation in Government affairs thereby reducing corruption and other forms of misuse of public funds. However Governments in this process can collect large amounts of personal information about the citizens which could lead to the loss of privacy.1 For the same reason, the biometric entitlement cards which are a significant part of the National identity scheme to be introduced in the UK have been subject of much debate. This paper compares some of the issues raised from the perspectives of statism and libertarianism According to a British Government poll, nearly 80% of its citizens were in favour of National ID cards. Statists believe that this reflects that people understand the major benefits of this card, which can serve as a proof of identity, protect them from identity theft and fraud and confirm their eligibility to public services and prevent fraud in the same. Along with these more personalized benefits, the state they felt would be able to combat terrorism and organized crime and also tackle with the issue of illegal working and immigration to the UK. 2 Liberatarians argue that the Government poll may not reveal the complete picture. While many people do like the idea of a single document that serves as proof of identity, they are not as enthusiastic about paying for the card. Similarly the people do not like to reveal such a large amount of personal data to the state. 3 Identity fraud remains a serious concern in the UK. Over 500% increase in identity fraud cases has been noted in the period between 1999 and 2005.6 Similarly a UK Passport Service estimate based on research conducted in 2002 states that over 10,000 fraudulent passport are made every year. Another estimate by the Department for Work and Pensions using Regional Benefit Review (RBR) suggests that £20 million and £50 million of identity-related benefit fraud is committed each year. 4 In order to support the state in its efforts to wipe out or reduce the menace of identity fraud, statists argue that entitlement or ID created with the effective use of technology are the need of the hour. Statists have hailed the use of biometric technology as state of art technology that can ensure accuracy and prevent fraud. Biometric includes fingerprints, iris scans, face recognition systems that are unique to every individual.5 Libertarians however feel that technology can never be completely secure. They believe that the increasing number of identity thefts merely reflects the states failure to curb technology related crimes. The question the very validity of the state’s claim that the data collected as part of the National identity scheme will not be misused. The views of the libertarians are endorsed by organizations like privacy international. The organization believes that criminals have access to the same sophisticated technology as Governments. A supposedly ‘infallible’ card is likely to attract greater investment from the criminals and is likely to increase identity theft. The organization even predicts that on the introduction of an identity cards scheme, identity thefts are frauds in the UK are likely to rise to proportions in the USA.6 Another interesting issue raised by libertarians is how can one prove his/her identity while applying for an Identity card. While the existing Identity proofs like driving licenses and passports may be obvious choices, the question raised is how the Government can ensure that these are not forged. This process of issuing identity cards, libertarians fear may legitimize existing fake Ids.7 Also, Libertarians emphasise that no common law country has introduced the Identity cards scheme in peacetime. Doing so, they believe is an infringement of individual rights and privacy. 8 The state, according to Libertarians is using devious means to ensure that ID cards become a necessity for the general public. While on record, the government has said that identity cards are not compulsory, even for basic things like acquiring a driving license or renewing ones passport, the ID card is mandatory.9 Once on the National identity Register, libertarians fear people will be exposed to the many faults of the scheme. It then becomes the responsibility of the citizen to keep the Government informed on his or her every move. Every detail recorded in the database requires to be updated regularly. So if an ID card holder, shifts residence, the state needs to be told about it or face punishment. 10 Statists on the other hand believe that the state by keeping track of the movement of its citizens can ensure their safety and security. This could be useful not just for British citizens but also legal immigrants. According to a Home Office report published by the Home Office Research in 2005, there were an estimated 430,000 illegal migrants in the UK. 11 Despite libertarian arguments that this effort to curb illegal immigration could isolate immigrant populations in the UK and cause further social divide, it has been found that immigrant populations are in favour of the identity cards scheme. 12 Statists also believe that the Identity card Scheme can help counter terrorism and organized crime. However, Libertarians would agree with the views of Simon Thomas, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion. He made an interesting point stating that terrorists often worked within the framework of identity cards. Giving the example of the September 11th bombers he has said that they merely stole cards or forged them.13 Statists also argue that the identity cards will confirm eligibility of cardholders to public services and benefits. This would include access to the education, health services and even employment bureaus and reduce the dangers of benefit frauds. However it could mean total loss of privacy for the individual. There could be thousands of people in various capacities with legitimate access to the data in the system. Libertarians believe that even a few dishonest or corrupt among these could lead to personal data being misused and abused. 14 Using the NHS services, for instance can expose not merely the medical details but also demographic details to employees of the NHS who have access to the database. The common man is likely to have no control over this . Only in special cases on the request of police or social services are these details withheld from the person accessing the database. Even medical details like one attending a Sexual Health or GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) Clinic is noted on this database.15 Statists argue that the introduction of Identity cards can prepare UK to become part of the second Schengen Information System. 11 of the 15 European union states have Ientity cards. This system mintains and distributes information on border security and law enforcement schemes.16 By joining this UK too can secure its borders and improve law and order within the country. This could serve as yet another way to counter terrorism and fraud. Libertarians see this as an alarming prospect. They fear that the functionality of these cards will soon be extended to other areas the data here linked to other databases lke the Schengen Information System. Similarly Police Superintendents' Association has called for a national DNA database. If all these are linked, data which was previously available only on a need to know basis would be available in one centralized databank. 17This libertarians fear could open up more possibility for misuse. While statists laud the Governments efforts to launch the National identity card scheme, Liberatarians are very skeptical about its ability to manage such a scheme. While statsists believe in the Governments commitment to ensure security and design a system that ensures highest levels of safety and is hacker proof. Libertarians on the other hand believe that the scheme has the potential to become a great disaster. The Government they state does not have a good track record in implementing such large scale projects and is likely to make serious mistakes.18 Also they fear that a system considered fool –proof today need not remain so forever and question whether any IT expert could offer a guarantee of lifetime security for the databases. To conclude it can be said that the Issue of identity cards raises two major questions. On the one hand there is the ethical aspect, which questions the very need for these identity cards and views them as a violation of privacy. On the other hand there is the question of technological competence. Is the Government capable of handling such large amounts of data and ensuring their security? The idea of an effective identity scheme that serves its objectives can be achieved only when these issues are addressed. However some two decades from now it is likely that all young adults will be used to the idea of their lives being tracked in government databases. This has been done with the introduction of The Children’s Act in 2004, which has legitimized the process of issuing children with numbers and tracking them through a database. 19 Hence over time the national identity register is likely to become a reality. References: 1. van Duivenboden, HPM, 2002, “Responsive e-Governance Services : Citizen Participation in Public Administration-The Impact of Citizen Oriented Public Services on Government and Citizen”. Draft paper presented at OECD seminar on “Vision Responsiveness and measurement, Paris. Accessed on 11th December from www1.oecd.org/publications/e-book/4203071E.PDF 2. 3. 2. Identity and passport Services, “What are the benefits of the National Identity Scheme?” [Online] Accessed on 11th December from: http://www.identitycards.gov.uk/benefits-glance.asp 4. Grossman, W.M, 2005,” Identifying Risks: National Identity Cards",2:1 SCRIPT-ed 4 . [online] Accessed on 16th December from http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/ahrb/script-ed/vol2-1/idcards 5. Identity and passport Services, “What are the benefits of the National Identity Scheme?” [Online] Accessed on 11th December from: http://www.identitycards.gov.uk/benefits-facts.asp 6. Mendham, T, “Biometrics” [online] Accessed on 18th December from http://www.trevor-mendham.com/civil-liberties/identity-cards/biometrics.html 7. Leyden, J.2002, “British ID cards to revolutionise crime” [online] Accessed on 12th December 2006 from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/710669/posts 8. Mendham, T, “Bootstrapping the System” [online] Accessed on 18th December from http://www.trevor-mendham.com/civil-liberties/identity-cards/bootstrap.html 9. Privacy International on the UK government's proposed national identity card, 2002, [online] Available from Read More