Inbox: ID guinea pigs, snooping database and CIO standards

"It's the divide and conquer approach, or 'how to eat an elephant'"

The weekly Inbox column collects the best and most thought-provoking of the reader comments silicon.com receives each week.
ID guinea pigs attracted lots of attention on silicon.com this week, closely followed by a story concerning a government database to record details of UK citizens' communications. Readers also had a thing or two to say about the latest CIO Jury, which called for a recognised accreditation for IT skills.

Don't forget to post your own response to any of these stories or comments below.

'ID card guinea pig' pilots ready to call in lawyers
The British Airline Pilots Association union has warned it may seek a judicial review of the government's ID cards scheme to prevent pilots being forced to carry identity cards.

Call their bluff
If all pilots refused (as well as all others when the time comes)...they aren't going to put them all in jail etc so people should call their bluff!

Also, how can a government that is meant to work for us and do what we want, send people to jail for not coming on board with a project that no one wants?

ID cards are a rubbish idea and a complete waste of taxpayers' money. The government are just trying to push it through now to save face, as doing a U-turn now would be disastrous for them!
Richard Davies, North Yorkshire

Easy to say…
Well it's easy to sit here and say "I'll refuse" - but how many of us could hold out when the time comes? We've been hit (possibly more than once) with fines (oops, sorry, civil penalties - they can't be challenged in court) and have to choose - continue to refuse, or continue to keep roof over head and food on table.
Simon, Cumbria

'How to eat an elephant'
It's the divide and conquer approach, or "how to eat an elephant". Pick a small group, apply lots of pressure and a reasonable-ish sounding argument to those who aren't affected at least with swinging penalties for non-compliance then when they fold, move on to the next group citing the first group as a "success"…
Karen Challinor, UK

Stand up and refuse!
I think there's very little choice here - everyone needs to refuse to have one and then refuse to pay the fines - the country will be in complete chaos. Like Karen says, it's the elephant approach and it's only by stopping the small bites that the large bites fail.
RM, UK

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Snooping database has to happen says gov't
The Home Secretary has stressed the need for even greater snooping powers for government.

Track record
"Unwarranted intrusion into the lives of every citizen, it also raises worries about making sure that people's personal information is properly safeguarded, is not misused and can never fall into the wrong hands."

The above is something the government can never guarantee with its past record.

Also, I think this type of crime fighting isn't really crime fighting as it should be... it really is just big brother.
Richard Davies, North Yorkshire

Waste of public money
When legislation is planned by idiots it is usually the innocent who suffer. It is ludicrously simple to avoid being traced by what is proposed by the government.

The whole scheme is a total waste of public money, including the stealth tax imposed by higher ISP fees.

Jacqui Smith clearly does not understand the technology that she is trying to legislate.
Charles Smith, London

Government spin
Almost certainly! This government has made spin and disinformation a way of life. I don't think they actually know what truth is any more. Certainly I always assume that any government statement is a distortion at best, and more commonly just plain lies. It seems the veneer is now more important that the substance, and perception more powerful than reality. It is a truly strange world we are living in.
Martin Anderson, Reading

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Do you agree? Join the debate, post a comment below.

CIOs back call for common skills scheme
CIOs have broadly set themselves behind the call for a common accreditation scheme for IT professionals, similar to qualifications required by doctors, lawyers, accountants and surveyors,

Why reinvent the wheel?
A great initiative, but hasn't anyone looked to the British Computer Society? - They are already striving to establish just the sort of accreditations that are being discussed.

Why reinvent the wheel?
N Brown, Hampshire

Waste of talent
Agree with N Brown. More money to be wasted by gov.

CITP is a valid qualification and as the BCS have a framework already in place maybe this should just be expanded into areas of other qualification.

Anyway, what skills shortage! Have they not seen 300 applicants applying for an advertised position? Majority of these being skilled people who can't get positions due to 'lack of specific sector experience', something that is very annoying and in my opinion a waste of good talent.
Phil Young, Midlands

Recognise standard
There needs to be a recognised standard which is known by all recruiters and which really differentiates the candidates based on skills and experience. This would help employers pick the right candidates.
Anonymous, London

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