@Gillian166
Under the law here, we are obliged to copy the IDs of all guests, enter them into a police database, and keep them on file indefinitely.
I don't enjoy the hassle, and I don't believe it should be necessary, and no, since I am not a data security facility, I obviously can't guarantee the copies will be "secure", but it's the law. And no guest has ever expressed any concern about it.
I think it might be a difference in cultures. For example, Americans we've known personally have expressed surprise about this. The British don't even have IDs (other than passports) and also have expressed surprise to have to produce identification at all.
Over here, people freely give out their identity and bank information. For example, if somebody is buying something from you, you give them your account number and they send you the money. Virtually any businesses publishes their bank account details on their website or any other documents, such as invoices. We have tax ID number that required for many types of transactions, particularly for tax deductible purchases. I think Americans call this a "social security" number, and are supposed to keep it "secret" (?)
Equally, personal IDs are part of daily life here. Nobody seems to fret about having to identify themselves or leave a record of it.
Some people we know from North America have expressed shock that anyone would so freely reveal such data to a stranger. But it's common practice here.
This might explain why it seems like a tempest in a teapot to me.