Four reasons are cited for a national ID card scheme: (1) belief that ID cards will help prevent crime, illegal immigration, and benefit fraud; (2) recent technological advances, for example, "smart cards" with sophisticated forms of information retrieval and storage; (3) concern about the free movement of persons in Europe and the removal of border controls; and (4) government plans to use separate cards which are similar to ID cards, for example, new driving licenses and social security payment cards. Previous experience with and proposals for ID cards in the United Kingdom are examined, as well as ID schemes in other countries. Benefits of ID cards, such as establishing the right to services and apprehending criminals, are weighed against civil liberties and privacy rights. The authors conclude that ID cards will not necessarily solve crime and illegal immigration, that ID cards may discriminate against minorities, and that ID cards may adversely affect privacy and legal safeguards constitutionally available to citizens. They seriously question whether a universal ID system is either necessary or acceptable in an open society. Answers to questions posed in the 1995 government paper on the ID card scheme are provided in an appendix. 107 endnotes