Shadow Home Affairs Minister, James Brokenshire MP, has today called for an urgent review of safeguards to protect against ID fraud in the wake of the increasing use by clubs and bars of computer scanning equipment to check age information.
The new products are being marketed to pubs, clubs and entertainment outlets to improve their compliance with licensing requirements on under-age drinking. But large quantities of other personal details are also being downloaded at the same time. The equipment works by taking data from driving licences and other forms of ID when they are swiped through the machine by door staff. This includes home address details, date of birth information and even a personal photograph. These details are then stored for potential marketing and other uses and can be printed out, burned onto CD or emailed.
James Brokenshire has written to the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, urging him to remind entertainment venues of their obligations to comply with the Data Protection Act and to review safeguards on the mis-use of personal data obtained through scanning equipment.
Commenting, James Brokenshire said:
"Whilst I welcome increased vigilance on under-age drinking, there is risk that personal information could be intercepted and misused. The risk of identity fraud is obviously heightened if personal details are combined with credit card information obtained from the same venue.
"It is essential that pubs, clubs and other licensed premises obtaining addresses, dates of birth and other information through the use of this equipment apply strict security measures and that customers are given the choice whether they want their details stored. There are also serious questions about why it is so easy for commercial organisations to be able to download information stored on driving licences and identity documents.
"This issue is just a small foretaste of the sort of problems that would arise if a national ID card were ever introduced."
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