UAE | Government
ID secrecy concerns groundless
Residents applying for ID cards through Emirates Marketing and Promotions (EMP) need not worry about the secrecy of their personal information, a senior official told Gulf News.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:00 June 2, 2009
- Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
- EIDA has assured residents that all data provided for the national ID card will not be used by other parties. This picture is for illustrative purposes only.
Abu Dhabi: Residents applying for ID cards through Emirates Marketing and Promotions (EMP) need not worry about the secrecy of their personal information, a senior official told Gulf News.
"The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) has not authorised them [EMP] to utilise the information and we made this very clear under a strict contract and privacy agreement," Thamer Rashid Al Qasimi, Planning Director and Project Management Director said in response to concerns raised by a Gulf News reader.
John. S, a Gulf News reader, had alleged that a joint mechanism of application processing by EIDA and EMP was a blatant violation of privacy.
He said the EIDA has allowed EMP to collect and process application forms and there was no guarantee the data would not be copied and used for marketing purposes.
"The interesting part is we pay Dh40 to give away our information and some marketing company is making money on it", he said.
"I know that the ID card system proposed by EIDA is designed as a foolproof mechanism with a three-step security feature; it may be secure." But, according to him, it is not the right way to start the identity project, because personal information has already been stolen before it enters the secure vaults of EIDA.
Dismissing such concerns, the official said: "Applicants have no need to worry because EMP is a government entity, and works under UAE laws."
"They use our 100 per cent designed application so we enforce this and control this environment and the outsourced service," Al Qasimi added.
Clarification: Dh40 charge
Regarding the complaint that the Dh40 fee for the pre-registration process through EMP is too costly, the official said the service is meant for people who do not know how to use a computer. "The service charge is levied by the third party [EMP] and not EIDA", he said.
EIDA limited the cost to Dh40 as some typing centres were charging up to Dh100 just to type and print the form, Al Qasimi added.
EIDA offers the pre-registration form free of charge on its website and it can be filled in within 10 minutes, he added.
EIDA is also working with the Central Bank to sort out the complaints that banks do not accept the ID card as a valid document for opening a bank account, the official said. "We are confident we will sort it out shortly," Al Qasimi said.
Latest news
- For this maestro, it's all about the sound
- Experts can't tell old instruments from new
- Sound of violins
- Facilitators: Helping others find joy
- Get friends on board, zip away with Salik bonus
- Abu Dhabi buildings to be clutter-free
- Mohammad holds talks with South Korea president
- Volunteers remove garbage from Mamzar beach
- Clean-up campaign set to raise awareness
- Sharjah landmarks bathed in light
- In the pursuit of happiness
- Dubai hospitals debut life-saving procedure
- Four poised to chase their dreams
- UK’s top Arab advocacy group in need of aid
- 10 things not to do on Valentine's Day
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
