Clegg warning over international biometrics database plan

4.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Jan 2008

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has expressed concern over news that the FBI is enlisting British law enforcement agencies to set up an international database containing the biometric details of thousands of people. The "Server in the Sky" programme would take cooperation between police forces way beyond the current faxing of fingerprints across the Atlantic. Allies in the "war against terror" - the US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand - have formed a working group, the International Information Consortium, to plan their strategy.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said "Biometrics - including DNA and fingerprints - are a vital weapon in the fight against crime. But giant databases that don't have adequate privacy protection systems are not the right way forward. It is typical of the UK government to doff its cap and sign up to any idea that emerges from Washington, however kooky. We should share information when other countries can guarantee data protection standards that match, or exceed our own."