Playing the Identity Card: Surveillance, Security and Identification in Global Perspective

On Monday, November 17, 2008 Dr. Colin J. Bennett, Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Victoria, will be speaking at the Faculty of Information, University of Toronto about identity cards in Canada. Details here and in the full press release below the fold.

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release – November 13, 2008

HOW CANADIAN IDENTITY CARDS STACK UP

(Toronto, ON) — Canada’s identity cards, such as Ontario’s proposed Enhanced Driver’s Licence, may help citizens prove “who we are,” but also bring up privacy, civil liberties and human rights concerns. How do other countries handle authentication and surveillance?

These issues will be explored by Political Science Professor, Colin J. Bennett, at an “Identity, Privacy and Security Initiative (IPSI)” lecture at the Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, at noon on Monday, November 17. His talk will be based on the findings of his just published book, “Playing the Identity Card: Surveillance, Security and Identification in Global Perspective,” (with co-editor David Lyon).

The authors look into a variety of identity card systems around the world, summarizing how different factors can affect the use of ID cards by the government to manage new technological changes, and shape its application to desirable or undesirable results, and how these trends could apply to Canada.

Media are invited to attend the lecture, or arrange for a one-on-one interview. The lecture will be held at the Claude Bissell Building (140 St. George Street), in Room 728, from noon to 1:00 pm, followed by a question and answer period. There is no charge and everyone is welcome.

Since 1986, Dr. Bennett has taught in the Department of Political Science at the University of Victoria where he is now Chair. He has published numerous scholarly and newspaper articles, as well as written books on the topic of surveillance technologies and privacy protection policies. He has advised many influential institutions such as the Canadian government, the European Commission, and the UK Information Commissioner. Dr. Bennett is currently a co-investigator of the SSHRC Major Collaborative Research Initiative grant entitled “The New Transparency: Surveillance and Social Sorting.”

For more information on this lecture or any of the IPSI series, please visit http://www.ipsi.utoronto.ca/events/calendar/advocacy.htm.

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For more information, please contact:
Kathleen O’Brien, Communications and Development Officer
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
416.978.7184 or kathleen.obrien@utoronto.ca
ischool.utoronto.ca