SecureIDNews | Blunkett: No UK ID cards

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Former Home Office Sec. David Blunkett says the UK should scrap the plans for a mandatory ID card and instead use electronic passports, according to a BBC news report. Blunkett, who first came up with the idea for the cards, says mandatory e-passports could do the same job as the ID cards.

The UK ID scheme has bee the topic of much controversy and there’s some question as to how it will move forward.

Read the full story here.

U.S. government settles smart card infringement case

The U.S. government has settled an infringement case with Leighton Technologies by agreeing to license its smart cards.

Leighton Technologies, a subsidiary of General Patent, filed a case against the federal government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in January 2010. Leighton alleged that 54 federal agencies used its six smart card patents without authorization. Leighton’s technology was also used in e-passports.

Malware attacks smart cards

A variant of malware called Sykipot is circulating that purportedly enables it to hijack U.S. Defense Department Common Access Cards and Windows smart cards, according to Alien Vault Labs. This variant, which appears to have been put together in March 2011, has been seen in dozens of attack samples from the past year.

British Columbia moves forward on CareCard upgrade

British Columbia is moving forward with plans to upgrade its CareCard program. According to The Vancouver Sun, the new card will provide access to a variety of regional services including electronic health records, driver license and school registration for children.

Smart cards replace paper coupons in Indian prison

Prisoners at Tihar prisons, located near New Delhi, India, will now be using smart cards instead of paper coupons for their food purchases.

As reported by The Economic Times, the former system of paper food coupons led to misuse and illegal activity within the jail. Some prisoners would use it for currency in order to get banned substances or buy favors from others.

Russian government delays universal card project

Russia has pushed back the launch of its universal eID card to January 2013, reports The Moscow Times.

Originally scheduled to roll out this month, the card is supposed to function as an electronic ID, driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, ATM card and immigration document, along with other possible features.

Report: India, the world's fastest growing smart card market

India is emerging as one of the world’s fastest growing smart card markets, according to a new research report by RNCOS. With more than one billion in population and increasing modern application areas, India is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 15% during 2011-2014.

Subscribe

Print Magazine

Featured Events

Links

Searching …

Blunkett: No UK ID cards