I went to the Sunlight Centre’s fringe on Tuesday in Manchester (which prompted this Guardian article). It was in the Freedom Zone. There were lots of No 2 ID stickers, and BOO leaflets, and I heart low taxes bags.

In a rather contradictory way though, I wasn’t allowed into the Freedom Zone until I’d handed over my contact details… Odd, I thought.

From Socrates on politicalbetting.com yesterday afternoon:

Anyone with strong views on the introduction of ID cards can apply to be part of the “conversation” and join one of the National Identity Service’s public panels:

You can either email publicpanel@ips.gsi.gov.uk or call 020 3356 8174

This morning, I had a call from some people calling themselves the National Accident Database who asked for me by name, ‘regarding an accident I may have had in the last 6 years’.  No such accident.

I asked them to tell me where they got my details. Eventually they put me through to a supervisor who said it was off a database but she wouldn’t tell me where from or what sort of database or any more details other than the fact that they had my name and phone number.  Apparently this refusal to say where they got my details from is to protect my privacy.

I have also had a series of texts in the last few weeks offering me £5,000 compensation ‘for your accident’. No such accident.

If I give anyone my phone number or email address when searching for quotes or information online, I always tick the opt-out of further information box.  I fully accept that I give out a certain level of information by doing this sort of thing online (and that it would not be hugely difficult for someone to track me down through this website, for example) but it really does make me cross when companies ignore my request to opt-out and continue to sell my details, and then won’t even give me enough information to take it up with whoever is responsible.

After I put the phone down, I read this article in the Guardian about the ongoing inquiry into press standards. While I know that it’s not the same thing, I think the point raised by the new Information Commissioner remains.  There is enormous potential for unscrupulous companies or individuals to misuse information, and as far as I can tell, any sanctions are pretty puny. I generally can’t see the point of jail sentences for financial crimes as I think big fines and relevant community service are actually more socially useful, so I do disagree on that point. However, as things stand, the benefits outweigh the risks, so it does appear that more needs to be done by the government.

This is just one of the reasons I am against ID cards and the database behind them – imagine if the database existed at the moment. How incredibly tempting would it be for the government to try to plug one of the many black holes by selling it…

Alan Johnson’s announcement that he is not going to make ID cards compulsory could be any number of things.

It is, first of all, yet another reannouncement – the cards have never actually been compulsory (except for airside workers in Manchester and London, and for foreigners).

Secondly it’s an acknowledgement that the funds just aren’t there.

Thirdly it’s an acknowledgement that the government doesn’t really know what their purpose is – it used to be combating terrorism; then benefit fraud; then underage drinking then probably something else.

And fourthly, it’s a flexing of the power Alan Johnson currently holds.

What it’s not, however, is the abolition of ID cards and/or the National Database. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy loon, it’s not the card itself that is the big worry; it’s the database.

When I lived in France, I had to have a residency card, which had my photo, name, address, date of birth and nationality on it. I don’t really have any great objection to that; it served as a secondary piece of photographic ID, and I only ever had to produce it when I would have had to do so here (for example, as official proof of address at the Post Office or at France Telecom). I imagine that, had I ever been stopped by the police, I would have been asked to show it but again, I don’t think that providing evidence of who you are in the event of being arrested is really a problem.

My big problem with ID cards and their database is two-fold. Firstly, (unlike France) the UK is not a country where things have to be authorised – the assumption is that you’re allowed to do something unless you are expressly prohibited. Our tradition is much more liberal and free than countries where you’re not allowed to do something unless the law specifically permits it.

But my most major objection is this. Look what the state does when it’s given too much power. Look what Poole Council did using anti-terror laws – they went after people trying to make sure their child got a good education. Look what Labour does with its massive majorities – makes bad laws, wrong decisions and nearly bankrupts us. As I have often argued, the relationship between us as citizens and the state has shifted and is now the wrong way round.

Concrete proposals to restore power to people are a good start. But I suspect an even better one might be to go through and simply repeal law after law after law.

I’ve actually watched this film (last time there was a fuss about it). It’s not good as entertainment and it certainly doesn’t have a story. But it’s an interesting exercise both in cinematic terms, and as a lesson in selective quotation and reputation management.

Anyone can select phrases from anything to make it sound bad or good.  Think of those theatre posters with ‘left me breathless!’ when the original quote said ‘left me breathless at how bad it was’.  Full understanding only comes from the context and indeed how something is put into action – how people interpret words and what actions they take based on that interpretation.

I think there are three lessons we should draw from this row: firstly that freedom of speech must be defended in a non-partisan, straightforward and even-handed way.  Secondly that if we disagree with something, being an ostrich, sticking your head in the sand and ignoring it is not the answer – as I argued in this post on the BNP.  And finally that unless we acknowledge that personal motivation is the most significant factor in behaviour, we will not even begin to resolve these sorts of problems.