The Advantages and Ethical Implications of National ID Systems

1. Introduction

The national ID system is a much-debated topic with proponents citing its possible advantages while opponents voice their privacy and security concerns over the same. In this essay, we explore the reasons to the need for national ID systems, as well as, the ethical implications of its implementation.

2. Reasons for the need of national ID system

There are several reasons that have been put forward in support of national ID systems. These systems are said to enhance security, facilitate efficient service delivery and reduce corruption among other things. Let us explore these reasons in detail.

3. Enhancing security

One of the primary reasons for the need of national ID systems is enhanced security. With everyone having a unique identification number, it would be easier to track down criminals and prevent terrorist attacks (Hope, 2003). As Lord Carlile pointed out in an article for the Daily Telegraph, “terrorists and serious criminals will find it much harder to ply their trades if they can be identified at every turn” (Lord Carlile, 2006). This was also echoed by YouGov poll results which showed that almost 60% of people supported the introduction of a national ID card in order to combat terrorism (YouGov, 2006).

4. Facilitating efficient service delivery

Another reason for the need of national ID systems is that it would facilitate efficient service delivery. As services like healthcare and welfare are becoming increasingly digitized, it is important to have a unique identifier for each citizen in order to ensure that the right person is receiving the services they are entitled to (Hansard, 2003). This would also help in curbing fraudulent activities like identity theft.

5. Reducing corruption

National ID systems have also been touted as a way to reduce corruption. By making it difficult for people to obtain fake identification documents, it would become harder for them to engage in corrupt practices ( Transparency International, 2015). This would eventually lead to more transparency and accountability in government institutions.

6. Convenience to the citizens

Another reason for the need of national ID systems is convenience to the citizens. With everyone having a unique identifier, it would be easier for them to apply for various services and benefits without having to go through multiple verification processes (Hansard, 2003). This would save a lot of time and hassle for both the citizens and the government officials involved in the process.

7. The way forward

The implementation of a national ID system is a complex process and needs to be done keeping all the stakeholders involved in mind. The first step would be to create a centralized database of all citizens with their unique identification numbers. The next step would be to issue identification cards to all citizens with their unique numbers printed on them. The government also needs to put in place strict security measures to protect this data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals or organizations.

8. Conclusion

In conclusion, national ID systems have several advantages which make them a desirable option for countries. However, the implementation of such a system also raises several ethical concerns which need to be addressed before moving forward with the process.

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