CS 492/CS 692 W08 Role-Playing Exercise 8

Universal IDs

Definition of Universal ID

The universal ID system consists of a personal card for each human being on this earth. Each person will be assigned a unique ID number that stays with them for the course of their lifetime.

Three main components make up the universal ID system:

1) Financial - Banking information, Credit Card information, etc.
2) Internet - Universal ID to login to all sites
3) National documents - Passports, Social Insurance cards, Licenses, etc.

Team A

A group of government officials and information managers at major corporations who point out that the proliferation of single-use identifying keys for individuals is causing major inefficiency, embarrassing and costly cases of mistaken identity, and considerable waste of time and money. They propose a single lifetime ID for every Canadian resident that would be used for everything from tax returns to grocery check-cashing cards.

Team B

A group of civil libertarians who argue that a universal ID would lead to loss of privacy and essential freedoms, and would be open to considerable abuse.


Last updated 10 January 2008