August 6, 2009 4:16PM 

# The Twelve-Minute ID Card Hack 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

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Several people today have sent me the [article in the *Daily Mail*](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204641/New-ID-cards-supposed-unforgeable--took-expert-12-minutes-clone-programme-false-data.html) (UK) discussing the twelve-minute hack on a UK identity card. Security consultant/​hacker Adam Laurie was apparently able to rewrite the data on the card in very short order.

This would imply that making a more secure card is an improvement. But more security in a national ID card almost inevitably means less security for the individual in terms of privacy and autonomy.

We don’t want a highly secure national ID card. We want a diverse and competitive identity and credentialing system. In such a system, governments may serve as identity providers. But that is not necessary and, given their powers, not desirable.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy) 

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