The German Government's biometric ID card programme leaves crucial legal, financial and technical questions unanswered and represents a "gigantic laboratory test", according to a report soon to be issued to the country's parliament. The German Bundestag office for technology assessment (TAB) has calculated that the Government's scheme to introduce biometric ID cards will cost €670m initially, along with running costs of €610m annually. Much work would be needed to equip public bodies and ID registration offices with personnel and new IT systems, says the TAB.
Key questions over the technology to be used, the IT system requirements, arrangements for distributing the cards and the public acceptance of biometrics are still to be addressed, according to the TAB.
The office is to submit a formal report to the Bundestag in May 2004. It recommends that extensive pilot tests and evaluations are needed before the Government considers implementation of the programme.
It also warns that the options for ID technology are already becoming limited. It says that there is a lack of open debate about ID cards and predicts that the Government may have to go along with technical standards for passports and other identity documents set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Quelle: Kablenet, 14.04.2004
