IT Essay: National ID cards Ethical issues

IT Essay: National ID cards Ethical issues National ID cards have long been advocated as a means to enhance national security, unmask potential terrorists, and guard against illegal immigrants. They are in use in many countries around the world including most European countries, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Currently, the United States and the United Kingdom have continued to debate the merits of adopting national ID cards. The types of card, their functions, and privacy safeguards vary widely. In UK, The Governments decision to introduce a national Identity Cards Scheme was announced in the Queens Speech on 17 May 2005 and the Identity Cards Bill was reintroduced to Parliament. The date for introduction depends on the timing of the Bill being passed as law.   It is   expected to issue the first ID cards from 2008. But there has been a huge outcry over the issue and public continue to debate over it. According to the government press releases, ID cards will provide legal UK residents, including foreign nationals, with an easy and secure way of proving who they are. ID cards will be linked to their owners by unique biometric identifiers (for example, fingerprints) which mean one will have a much stronger way of protecting peoples identities. Background checks will ensure that claimed identities are real and not stolen, and will prevent criminals using multiple identities.The card will have the details like Name, address, gender, date /place of birth, immigration status, finger prints and iris scan. However it will not have sensitive information such as ethnic origin, medical records, tax records etc In UK, anyone who is in the country for more than 3 months and is over 16 years old is eligible for an National ID card. Public and private sector organisations will be able to check the information held on the National Identity Register to help them establish the identity of their customers and staff.   For example, you may be asked to prove your identity when opening a bank account or registering with a doctor. Major points advocating the need for an ID card is: 1. Prevention of Identity theft: An ID card will prevent the identity theft of an individual by providing him a secure and straightforward manner of proving and protecting their identity..2. Prevention of illegal immigration and travel: ID cards will stenghten immigration control.Government and people will know who is a legal citizen of the country and who go the rights to work here, thereby preventing illegal work which infact affects the economy.3. Public services: ID cards will help ensure public services are used by those entitled to use them .Thus it will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. 4. Terrorism and organised crime: Just as people will gain an individual benefit from registering with the ID cards scheme, as more people r enrolled society as a whole benefits.It will be better protected from activities of those who use false identities, from people who hide their criminal past to avoid restrictions on working with children through to organised crime and those who support terrorist activites. ID cards- Ethical issues: We will discuss the national ID cards issue with respect to various computer ethical theories: 1. Ethical relativism: According to this theory, Morality is relative to the norms and traditions of a society.It states that whether an action is right or wrong depends on the society in which it is practiced.Actions which are right in one society can be considered wrong in another one.Now comparing this to the issue of national ID cards, which are considered as a tag to a citizen given by the government.Although National ID cards have been implemented in various europeon countries , malaysia, singapore etc but for countries like UK or USA, its not a very good idea to implement this.Reason being these countries are quite liberal in terms of foreigners settling in to take up jobs and a higher standard of living.So the culture is mixed.There are various colors and races of people.Issue of national ID cards can foster a new form of racism and descrimination. E.g. in UK, Asian or African communities can become subject to constant identity checks to confirm their status in the country. F ailure to carry a national I.D. card would likely come to be viewed as a reason for search, detention or arrest of minorities. The stigma and humiliation of constantly having to prove that they are citizens or legal immigrants would weigh heavily on such groups.Now compared to countries having a single colour people and not many foreign visitors, they might not have the same problem as ID cards can cause in USA or UK. So relativism theory holds true for national ID cards.It also depends on the situation of the society. National ID cards were issued in UK back in Second World War. But it was done to preserve national security from intruders and spies from other countries. It was abolished later on. So considering the situation; it was not a bad move that time. Now compare this to the present situation of UK the recent terrorist attacks, and post Sep 11 attacks on USA.National ID cards will provide a means of identifying any suspected person or someone who is having a past criminal re cord. This can make the present society more safe compared to what it is today. But again the implications are far too many. With various immigrants from so many countries, it would just cause an embarrassment for them who are also an integral part of todays society in these countries, as they would be viewed as potential suspects. ID cards would also act as an internal passport in the country. This is no doubt useful in the case of criminals or terrorists, but a common citizen has to show his credibility every time, thus giving a feeling of being monitored all the time. 2. Ethical utilitarianism: This theory classifies an act as right or wrong depending on the happiness of the society or person concerned .If the act is right, it would bring happiness .But if its not the case, then it is considered wrong. Utilitarians also assume that it is possible to compare the intrinsic values produced by two alternative actions and to estimate which would have better consequences. If the difference in the results is not of alternative acts is not great, some Utilitarians do not regard the choice between them as a moral issue. Coming to the issue of national ID cards, there are various direct and indirect consequences on the society. Some of them are good and beneficial and some are not. According to utilitarians, it is possible to do a bad thing from a right motive. Basically it provides an answer to what should a man do, to provide best possible results. Step taken in terms of issuing an ID card has a right motive. It would help in prevention of identity theft of an individual by someone else, prevention of illegal immigrants and travel into the country, as ID cards can provide a positive means of identification on the immigration status of a person. It would also help in prevention of misuse of public services and most importantly prevent the terrorists and persons having criminal record from taking fake identities to mix up in the society and try to cause some harm to it. Now all these are the positive points coming from ID cards.But there are few negative points too. Utilitarian theory tries to compare the bad consequences with the good ones and find out if the act is right or wrong. Now the foremost negative point about issuing an ID card is invasion of privacy of a person. All information about a person would be stored in a centralised database which can be accessed by any authorised person with the click on a button. But that doesnt guarantee prevention of possible misuse by some corrupt individuals to find out the details of someon e and possibly change it. And information once changed if not tracked in time, can cause a great loss to that person who wouldnt know what went wrong. He might get denied a job in a public sector requiring security clearance. People can make fake ID cards and steal identity of others, as it would be the most reliable method to prove ones identity. ID cards would also restrict ones free movement across the country and can cause racial discrimination. Now comparing the negative and positive points of this step, it is very difficult to decide which step is right for the society. But taking the safety of todays society, the decision tilts slightly in the favour of ID cards. But its a long debate and the exact consequences would only be known when the cards are actually implemented. 3. Deontological Theory: This theory focus on use of certain rules rather than consequences to justify an action or policy. The best-known deontological theory is that of Immanuel Kant in the 18th century. His theory stated that Moral rules should be universalisable i.e. applied to all rational, moral members of the community rather than to just some. All persons should be treated never simply as means but also always as ends in themselves. Members of the moral community should take a hand in making the laws as well as living by them. This theory states that one has to follow some morals no matter what the consequences are. Matter of ID cards clearly violates some freedom of movement and privacy of an individual. So technically speaking; it is not a moral thing to do.   Even though the consequences can be good for the society, but according to this theory, it should not be done, as it is not morally correct. One of the theory by shelly kaggan states that individuals are bound by constraints which he should respect but also given some options which he can choose to follow or not. Issue of ID cards can be considered as an option but it is not totally correct morally as it affects some rights of human beings. Consequences are not considered in this theory. Apart from all these ethical issues affecting an individuals rights of data protection, freedom of movement, privacy etc, there are many more hurdles which comes into picture before implementing ID cards Conclusion: It is not known how ID cards will be foolproof given the above failure modes. Misuse can be far more dangerous than anticipated. And they are prone to errors and misuse, and are likely to be blindly trusted even when wrong. And cost of issuing the ID cards to every person in the country would run into billions which will most likely be paid by the tax payers of this country. As expensive as the financial costs are, the social costs are worse. However saying that, ID cards are not totally ineffective but a proper and more reliable systems needs to be put into place before deciding on the privacy and rights of the citizens. Data Protection law is wholly inadequate to deal with the use of ID cards. Indeed legislation in most countries facilitates the use of ID cards, while doing little or nothing to limit the spectrum of its uses or the accumulation of data on the card or its related systems. However with its help in preventing terrorist activities, it can be implemented with a slight i mprovement on human rights issue. Morality of ID cards is still being debated all over the world, which is the main reason for the implementation getting delayed. Bibliography: 1.   Ermann M and M.B. Williams. Computers, ethics and society. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, pp 12 50 World Wide Web: 2.   Home office.http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/passports-and-immigration/id-cards/how-the-data-will-be-used/?version=1.Oct 09, 2005 3.   Identity cards. http://www.identitycards.gov.uk. .Oct 09, 2005 4.   Bruce Schneier. Schneier on Security.   http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/05/real_id.html.Oct 10, 2005 5.   National ID debate.   http://www.vastlyimportant.com/vastly/2004/08/national_id_deb.html#comments.Oct10,20056.   Epic-National id and real ID act. http://www.epic.org/privacy/id_cards/. Oct10, 20057. Utilitarianism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism.   Oct 12, 2005 8.   Ethical Relativism. http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/ethicalrelativism.html. Oct 12,2005

Implementing a Wearable Computer ID Card System Essay -- Security and

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background ï  ® In order to improve the time & attendance and security of Global Products LLC a wearable based ID card system has been proposed ï  ® We have considered up to date time and attendance systems, different types of wearable technology and scanning technology ï  ® The option in this business case was suggested due to the advantages to the companies quality, safety, productivity and cost saving systems Strategic Alignment ï  ® This proposal is aligned with discussions with HR and senior management ï  ® The purpose of this proposal is to gain approval for installation of computer based identification card system and security system. ï  ® If the proposal is unsuccessful the company will continue to experience challenges in its time sheet recording system. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 Wearable Computing ID cards at Global Products LLC 4 What are Wearable Computing based ID cards 4 How can Wearable Computing be utilized 5 Associated risks 6 Infrastructure 6 How we manage wearable cards 7 BUSINESS CASE 8 Overview of activity 8 Consultation 8 Financial Model 9 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS 11 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15 REFERENCES 16 â€Æ' Wearable Computing ID cards at Global Products LLC What are Wearable Computing based ID cards †¢ Computing based ID cards also known as RFID †¢ Radio frequency identification, or RFID, is a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify people or objects †¢ Direct line of sight is not needed for reading †¢ More than 1 card can be read at a time †¢ Information is stored on the card that communicates with a reader (see attached picture) †¢ Information from the card can be stored in the reader for quick access or on a net... .../mobile/mobile-applications/how-enterprises-can-plan-for-wearables/d/d-id/1127827. [Accessed 21 March 14]. RFID Journal. 2014. Frequently asked questions. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.rfidjournal.com/site/faqs. [Accessed 22 April 14]. Office of the privacy commissioner Canada. 2008. RFID in the workplace. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.priv.gc.ca/information/research-recherche/consultations/2008/rfid_e.asp#Part1-1. [Accessed 04 April 14]. Sage HRMS. 2013. Punching in for Improved Workforce Management: The Top Seven Benefits of an Automated Time and Attendance System. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.dresserassociates.com/pdf/whitepapers/Sage-HRMS-Top-Seven-Benefits-of-Automated-Time-Attendance-System.pdf. [Accessed 04 April 14]. Rawlinsons, RP, 2010. Rawlinsons Australian Construction Handbook. 28th ed. Osborne Park, WA: Rawlinson Publishing

Byzantine Christians Essay

Until the middle of the nineteenth century, historians and geographers in the European world held that history has a Locus. For them, pre-modern history began in the Bible Lands and it started moving westward and northward from western Asia into and across Western Europe. By 1492 the world scope of history was Eurasia. Only after 1492 did the world expand to include areas outside of Eurasia. For these historians, Africa, Oceania, the Americas, and part of Southeast Asia had no history until Europeans brought it to them in the sixteenth century and afterwards. These regions did not exist until discovered by Europeans. REVIEWING THE PAST: Pre-contact history of the Americas does not have the same level of conceptual reality of post-contact history. Only very few world historians seem to know o about the native traditions that existed in pre-Columbian America. The post-Columbian world is filled with abstract frameworks such as the ‘Slave Trade’, ‘Colonialism’ ’poverty’ , beginning with Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, ancient China and Egypt, the Assyrians and Persians, and ending with the Greeks, Romans and Byzantine Christians. American Indian civilizations, primarily those of the Aztecs and Incas, only form a backdrop to the post-conquest European themes of contact, settlement, and expansion. COLONIALISM: Throughout the contemporary world native and aboriginal peoples face disputes regarding their human rights, political participation, and claims to their ancestral economic resources where historical globalization began in the fifteenth century. Since then, colonialism and neocolonialism emerged in the global system. Natives and aboriginals were subjected to the worst side of the globalization process. We still can witness the legacy of such a development in the form of shabby leftovers. ECONOMY AND SLAVERY: Precious metals, commodities, and slave labor from the New World and Africa spurred the development of mercantile capitalism, the rise of the bourgeoisie, and the maturation of European absolutist states. These, in conjunction with encounters with different peoples, gave birth to a synergy of political ideologies and philosophical tools that propelled Europe to world domination. The invention of America involved the simultaneous invention of Europe as the â€Å"West. † conclusion: â€Å"The third-class people of the world have risen up and there is nothing we can do about it. † By the third-class citizens of the world are people outside white Europe and the United States. In 57 years as well, global interconnectedness has made itself ever more minutely felt through the communications revolution, the globalization of trade and production, and massive new migrations. Modernization analysis in the late 1950s began to take on a distinctive shape of its own. An intellectual transformation , a political transformation and a social transformation that mobilized human resources in an efficient way and engaged them in the process of modernization and globalization.

Analysis Of The Book The Wild By Jon Krakauer

On June 13, 1971, the New York Times headline read, â€Å"Vietnam Archive: Pentagon Study Traces 3 Decades of Growing U.S. Involvement†. Days earlier, Daniel Ellsberg provided the newspaper with excerpts from a 7,000-page classified study that became known as the Pentagon Papers. Just over 20 years later, moose hunters found the decaying remains of an adventurer in the Alaskan wilderness. The remains were concluded to be those of Chris McCandless, an affluent 20-something from Virginia, who wound up dead following his two-year long self-righteous odyssey. Author Jon Krakauer wrote an article on McCandless for Outside magazine, which later disseminated into a novel titled Into the Wild. At a glance, McCandless and Ellsberg may seem like polar†¦show more content†¦Ellsberg’s case was later dismissed due to government mishandling and illegally obtained evidence by â€Å"The Plumbers† who later played a factor in the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resi gnation. As Wayne’s World hit the silver screens across the US, Chris McCandless perished in an abandoned bus in the Alaskan wilderness. McCandless’ journey began with the purpose of living a minimalist lifestyle and finding his true self. Alaska was the final destination in the 22-year-old’s self righteous odyssey that spanned two years. After graduating from Emory University, McCandless cut all ties with his family and changed his name to Alexander Supertramp. His new identity alludes to his goal to be the superior vagabond as he traverses across the country. McCandless’ motivation for his odyssey was to retaliate against societal norms and live a minimalist lifestyle. Chris led this type of lifestyle to limit attachment and affection that would lead to heartbreak and resentment, and because of this, Chris never created a solid relationship with anyone. Chris McCandless’ journey into the wild was fueled by a disaffection to society’s accep ted norms and his goal to uphold his principles at all costs. Daniel Ellsberg and Chris McCandless share common ground in their natural talent for academia and in their post-secondary educational pursuits. According to Ellsberg’s biography on Biography.com, â€Å"...Ellsberg was also an extraordinarily giftedShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book Into The Wild By Jon Krakauer1106 Words   |  5 PagesTaste of Adventure Changing your life should not be to run away from your problems; but to do what is best for you. In Into the Wild (1996), Jon Krakauer writes this biographical novel in order to inform readers about a young man named Chris McCandless, who changes his name to Alexander Supertramp, and his identity. Raised in a middle class family with both parents in the suburbs located in Washington, D.C. McCandless is an idealist, intellectual young man who graduated with honors from Emory UniversityRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Into The Wild By Jon Krakauer1686 Words   |  7 PagesRebellions can have both a negative and positive outcome not matter what the cause. In the book â€Å"Into the Wild†, written by Jon Krakauer, the character Chris McCandless embarks on a journey of ultimate freedom and exemption. Washington and McCandless are similar because they did something most people would not. They both stepped out of the ordinary society and decided to do what they think is best. For ex ample, Washington led the Continental Army against the great British Empire, and Chris left hisRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Into The Wild By Jon Krakauer1669 Words   |  7 PagesElements of Transcendentalism In the book, â€Å"Into the Wild† by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless is an in-the-closet transcendentalist; all of his ethics match up with those of a transcendentalist, yet he never admits he is one. McCandless agrees with all of the components of transcendentalism and follows them unremittingly as soon as he graduates from college, and he lives by those components to a fault, which ultimately led to his death. Deliberate living, nonconformity, and simplicity are three cardinalRead MoreInto the Wild: by Jon Krakauer1186 Words   |  5 Pagessense Krakauers natural liking for McCandless. He was sympathetic to McCandless, based on Krakauers sense of a shared experience in their youth and up until McCandless eventual death and Krakauers perceived near death experience on the Devils Thumb. I believe the author’s main point and perspective was formed from his own experience and relationship with his father. While the situations were basically reversed with Chris not approving of his father and Lewis Krakauer disappointed in Jon for notRead MoreIntrospection in How to Tell a True War Story, and Into the Wild1494 Words   |  6 Pagestext, â€Å"How to Tell a True War Story† Tim O’Brien expresses his thoughts about the true war story and how the war story is changed according to the person who tells it. Jon Krakauer illustrates Chris McCandless’s journey into the Alaskan wilderness and reasons for McCandless’s gruesome death in an isolated place, in his book â€Å"Into the Wild.† O’Brien relates introspection and a soldier’s war story by saying that the war story portrays the feelings of a soldier. A soldier’s war story is not the exact warRead MoreLiterary Analysis of Into the Wild1669 Words   |  7 Pag esLiterary Analysis of Into The Wild Imagine spending thirty days alone in a tent or a cabin in the wilderness with no technology, electricity, running water, and any form of communication. Every day you wake up to the sight of the beautiful, tall trees and the various wildlife living in the area. Most of the time, you can hear the many sounds of nature: the majestic songs of birds, the whistling in the wind, and trees rustling. But sometimes all you can hear is nothing but silence. Most of usRead MoreJon Krakauer Is A Popular American Author1393 Words   |  6 PagesJon Krakauer is a popular American author. Most of his work covers the ventures of outdoor. The harsh conditions of life, faced by the heroic figures of different times. His widely read and distributed books include Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, Under the Banner of Heaven, Into Thin Air and Into the Wild. After winning the title of bestseller for his earlier account of heroic lives, Jon Krakauer again attempted to write a biography of an outstanding and exceptionally patrioticRead MoreAnalysis Of Chris Mccandlessness In Into The Wild870 Words   |  4 Pagespleasure, and fulfilled his lust for adventure, by tramping around the United States. Rather than living the normal life in civilization, Chris felt his love for nature stated when he abandons his family and lives off the land. Jon Krakauer, the author of Into the Wild wrote the book about Chris McCandless aka Alex Supertramp when he died of starvation in the Alaskan wilderness and made headlines. People around the country voiced their opinion on Chris, some believing him to be brave while others a foolRead MoreEssay on Mountains More Dangerous than Everest1156 Words   |  5 Pagesmountains. Sherpas can function high altitudes, which makes them valuable when they carry climbers bags to the camps for them. Jon Krakauer, a climber of Everest during the 1996 disaster, mentioned that he had to chop ice for three hours without help to use for a dozen gallons of water and some of his teammate would shout for more (157). It was at this point that John Krakauer realized how much the Sherpas did for expeditions. Everest also has a limit on the amount of people per expedition so that overcrowdingRead MoreThe Wild And Ambitious Journey Of Chris Mccandless1202 Words   |  5 PagesInto The Wild Analysis Alexander Supertramp: Personification of Courage The story Into The Wild details the spiritual and ambitious journey of Chris McCandless. Chris McCandless is depicted by the author Jon Krakauer as an individual who grew tired of the social perceptions and all the flavorless interactions that occupied it. Despite the career path that was laid in front of him, McCandless sought something more than what materialism had to offer; He sought enlightenment. Due to the cause that