Originally Posted by
mrploddy
The amount of information is approximately the same as what is on a passport and in fact less as you're travel history isn't recorded on it.
No, this is quite wrong.
Take a look at
What data will ID cards store?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8176174.stm
for the up to 49 pieces of information - where 'a piece' of information can be lots of collected data.
This even includes date of death, though it's not clear to me how and when this piece of information would require checking.
If 'ID cards' were simply that - identity cards - people wouldn't have reservations.
My Swiss ID card is essentially that, for the time being at least, without all that other stuff. I regularly use it for EEA travel as it is more convenient than a passport. I also use it for TSA checks in the US without a problem. After all, it has a photo and looks official, so it must be good. Mind you, my Oyster card was accepted as ID in Mexico City.
