LIBERTY GROUPS ATTACK PLAN FOR EU HEALTH ID CARD
> >
> > October 21, 2003
> >
> The London Daily Telegraph reports: "The European Union took its first
> step yesterday towards the creation of an EU-wide health identity card
able
> to store
> > a range of biometric and personal data on a microchip by 2008. Approved
by
> Union ministers in Luxembourg, the plastic disk will slide into the
> credit-card
> > pouch of a wallet or purse.
> >
> > The European Health Insurance Card is intended to end the bureaucratic
> misery of E111 forms currently used by travelers who fall ill in other EU
> countries.
> > Eventually it will replace a plethora of other complex forms needed for
> longer stays.
> >
> > But civil liberties groups said it was the start of a scheme for a
> harmonized data chip that would quickly evolve into an EU 'identity card'
> containing
> > intrusive information off all kinds that could be read by a computer.
> >
> > During the first phase from June 1 next year, each country will be able
to
> choose whether to include photographs, fingerprints and biometric data,
such
> > as eye measurements, on the 'national' side of the card. Britain is
opting
> for a minimalist version.
> >
> > The European Commission said yesterday that the final phase in 2008
would
> add a 'smart chip' containing a range of data, including health files and
> records
> > of treatment received. 'The ultimate objective is to have an electronic
> chip on the card, as the technology improves,' said a spokesman.
> >
> > Tony Bunyan, the head of Statewatch, said it was part of a disturbing
> Union-wide erosion of privacy since September 11 2001. 'We all know where
> they're
> > heading with this,' he said. 'They want a single card with all our data
on
> one chip. It'll be a passport and driver's license rolled into one with
> everything
> > from our national insurance numbers, bank accounts, to health
records.'."
> >
> > I thought I had some more articlees on this but there were some errors.
> I'm going to hunt some more down.  We haven't discussed this in a while.
If
> they had this kind of a card in your country, would you take it?  What do
you think god wants when that takes place?  What about when the chip in the
> hand or forehead is offered?  ARe you thinking, what are they talking
about?
> Let us know.