Do we really need a new Identity Card with biometric technology and our fingerprints on?

Nice post! Hope that most people understand that we shouldn't give our fingerprint even if somebody pointed the small privacy left to us with phone, computer etc. Your fingerprint is like the symbol of your privacy and liberty and you're ready to just give it like this, it's pretty sad, no ?

It's true that our phone knows a lot about us, sms, facebook, mail etc. but you are the only responsible of these informations. Nobody forced you to put your life on facebook, simply don't create your account.

Here, with fingerprint, the case is different. First, we are talking about fingerprints, it's not your name or a photo, it's a print of your fingers, a body stamp which is the most private thing that you can have and an easy way to identify you. In other word, it's a big step against liberty and privacy.

Second, you're forced to give the authority your fingerprint, to give them your privacy. Where are your rights? Give me the choice, and I will choose to give it or not. It's really a personal matter, it's like forcing you to give your DNA.

Third, if you're ready to give something like our fingerprint to someone, you must really trust this person. He mustn’t give in to others or use it against you. This is a sad point but unfortunately many of us have lost trust in the Mauritian authority and the government. I won't justify my point but if you read and understand the media every day you will certainly agree with me.

Well, having said all that, it wasn't the purpose of my comment.. Actually I'm just looking where to join people who don't want to give their fingerprint for the new ID card and what to do. If people have already find an issue with the law etc.

Im not looking forward of switching to the new id card, i guess i respect my privacy and i believe the amount of money being wasted on such a useless investment could had been used in other ways like improving internet connection , giving poor people a better means of living.

The data being added to the id card does not respect privacy of people, what if these data lay into the wrong hands? what if data are misused? Does personal data of people still kept secure in the world we are living i.e a 21st century life where technology has moved beyond imagination? The video of "lalit" really changed my opinion and my way of thinking and made me realise that mauritius doesn't seems a democracy, what i mean by that is, there should had been public voting about how much people agree with that and how many people don't.

implementing such stuffs really neeed public opinion and my last words are that well, i don't look forward about stepping that id office ;)

How can the "ruling class" control the "country class"? How does the shepherd keep track of a herd of sheep? And how do biologists keep track of endangered wildlife? Welcome to the new world order my friend! It is part of a great scheme for the evil minority to rule the innocent majority!

This new stuff creates an illusion of security and boast loudly of it being modernism! SO FALSE and UTTER BULLSHIT. Be warned, it is not 4 fingerprints that will be collected, but all 10! Yes, all ten fingers will be scanned, recorded, and stored in this database. Furthermore, facial scanning will done, features as complex as skin grain and texture will also be recorded. I am definitely against this scheme and I won’t register for that new ID. Some are saying that if you have nothing to hide why worry? This is not the issue at all. Well, I guess then you could let the government read your mail, search your house, read your sms, view your skype chat. After all if you have nothing to hide why worry?

Furthermore, do you know what’s more frightening? The government has not given any guarantee nor taken legal measures and frameworks to ensure security! That ICTA thing is a joke, those verbal guarantee that ministers are giving are nothing more than the speech of a politician! Moreover, they are reserving themselves the right of how they are going to use this data in the future – think about sharing, matching, or tracking. Imagine in a near future, you now need this card to get access to hospital, and where your medical records are stored in it or some other database, with sharing between institutions, it will be too easy for them (politicians and influent people) to trace and link your complete history!

Do you know that police or government intelligence secretly take photos of people in public manifestation? (whether pacific or not). Facial recognition will enable to them to immediately recognise you. They won’t even need permission from a judge to do matching! There is a possibility of the ‘secret police’ (one at the service of ruling political party leaders) to potentially have a secret file on you! Go for a job interview in public sector tomorrow or apply for some kind of license, background checks will be so easy, even if you've done nothing legally wrong, it can be discriminatory for you.

In Mauritius nothing has really been done to reinforce and strengthen democracy. Do you remember the Roberston report on media law? (Google, download and read). This could have really upgraded democracy and civil rights. The government refused to implement it and now it must be in an office drawer. You see, when the government is not initiating genuine efforts to improve democracy, manipulates the TV and puts pressure on private radios (democracy’s watchdogs), how can you not doubt and question their real motives? Democracy is still in its baby days in Mauritius, who will rule in the next 20-30 yrs? A dictator? Will it still be a democratic government? You have no idea. So this is like digging your grave!

However, in France, the bio-ID is in use. France is another thing; it’s on another level relative to national security, democracy, illegal immigration and civil rights as compared to Mauritius. This project is too ‘avant-gardiste ’ for us. I won’t even start with the huge cost of this new ID and as I mentioned modernism back, do you know that in 2013, hospitals are giving patients a vulgar ‘baton- mop’ as crutch. Use that money and improve the quality of life of the common Mauritian. Invest in the public busses, improve waste collection for example. Better, they could have invested in tracking bracelets for criminals and recidivistic thugs! No, they won’t, it’s better to have a file on every citizen.

Believe me, there are compromises that can be made concerning this new ID. Bio-data is not necessary unless you plan to use it for something else! Like you have a hidden agenda for instance. I remember a Mauritian lawyer saying it anti- constitutional and against the human rights for someone to take your bio-data without your consent. Only the police reserve the right to do so and only with permission a judge and that’s when you are suspected of crime too! It is also possible for laws voted in the assembly to be anti-constitutional! Mauritius has ratified the convention of human rights and you have the right to object to the collection of your bio-data. For those who really believe in democracy and in civil and individual rights, you have the duty to reject against collection of your bio-data!

Here in the UK, this project was abandoned by the gov because it proved too controversial.
There is nothing inherently wrong if used properly. But problems arise when misused.
To have so much personal data centralised is dangerous and will attract a lot of undesirable attention. No security is perfect.

Rogue people within the gov may also misuse your data or sell them.

You've seen already how the NSA and other gov agencies act as a law unto themselves and spy on people through their personal details on Facebook et al. A database with a whole nation's biometric details will prove irresistible for them.

The people of the UK saw this risks and got it abolished.
Now it's your turn. Make your government work for you.

I believe you can guess the real reasons for the authorities going for the new biometric technology. The main facility will be for the authorities who will use this as an exercise to collect data on it's citizens. The data will be kept on a central server which will serve for social security, police, MRA, etc. Think about it you will give at least two finger prints and a photo and you will need to furnish proof of address. This is a major security/identity data collection. For example, once the data is collected it can be used to track down social security fraudsters.

Mauritius tries to be a technological hub with ways of the middle age

Yes definetely

I think it's a yes..

lol if you think your identity is being kept safe by NOT having this new ID card in place, your a fool. As soon as you get a phone, a credit card, a bank account, a facebook page, a passport etc you have already surrendered you personal information. Don't kid yourselves, your info is already out there. This card is just another gimmick to store all of it in one place.

In fact if you have ever been to the USA you have to surrender all fingerprints (10 of them) upon arrival at any US airport, no matter who or what nationality you are.

So whats the fuss about this card? Not much because the info it stores is already somewhere out there.

Many people claim this might be an attempt to dictatorship in Mauritius. How can be the person in charge of this project be himself blamed for fraud?? ( Valdus - Chinnapah ) Electronic chips in those cards do not guarrantee our complte freedom of living. This is violating our rights. I am newly 18 and I clearly refuse to change my identity card for this new dog collar!

they should not be allowed to keep so much information, before they can guarantee that this will not be breached...
imagine if the servers of major worldwide organisations can be hacked into, what level of security are these people gonna provide?
too dangerous to have so much info - could fall into the hands of malicious hackers...
when the uk annnounced plans to introduce bio id cards, there was a revolt and the govt had to back down!

Why do you have to feel like a convict if you have nothing to fear?

I have nothing against the new ID card as long as it spares us the need to carry unnecessary documents all the time. Same for the cameras which have proven to have a direct effect on the criminality rate. Personally, I feel more secure with cameras because I know that there will be less chances of robbery or anyone attempting to commit some crime in the area.

Coming to the card, I haven't read much on the details about it but it will be interesting if they have include the driving license (and the useless copy of the driving license counterpart). And of course, make sure that the details included in the chip are extracted and put to use in a very near future in the related offices.

Great Idea!!