New mandatory digital ID for UK residents sparks controversy

PM Starmer called the enforcement of digital IDs ‘an enormous opportunity for the UK’ adding that it would offer citizens ‘countless benefits,’ while ‘making our borders more secure.’

Over time, the government announcement revealed, digital IDs would also be used to provide people access to other social services including childcare and welfare, while making it easier for individuals to apply for drivers licenses and access their tax records.

Not everyone is sold on the concept of keeping their ID next to their contactless credit card and digital concert tickets, though. Political opponents across the spectrum – even a spokesperson from the notoriously anti-immigration, far-right party Reform UK – were critical.

‘It’s laughable that those already breaking immigration law will suddenly comply, or that digital IDs will have any impact on illegal work, which thrives on cash-in-hand payments,’ said a spokesperson from Reform UK.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats tweeted that they cannot support a scheme ‘where people are forced to turn over their private data just to go about their daily lives’.

It added that people ‘shouldn’t be turned into criminals just because they can’t have a digital ID, or choose not to,’ and that older people, those living in poverty, and disabled individuals are ‘likely to be digitally excluded’.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, wrote on social media that her party ‘will oppose any push by this organisation or the government to impose mandatory ID cards on law-abiding citizens’.

So basically, every political party is firmly against introducing a digital ID system.

How does the public feel about a digital ID system? Well, according a poll carried out by Ispos this past summer, just over half of Brits surveyed (57 percent) said they’d support a digital ID card scheme for the sake of convenience.

However, 3 in 10 expressed concerns over how their data would be used, in particular whether it would be sold on to private companies or become even more vulnerable to security threats.

Responses on social media have been even more skeptical. Comments on @ukfactcheckpolitics’ Instagram announcement of the digital ID scheme range everywhere from apathy to outrage.

One user wrote, ‘I already have a passport, driving license and birth certificate but thanks.’ while another user questioned, ‘Money for this but not for anything that actually matters, like services, NHS, taxing billionaires?’

Others were more investigatory and cynical, stating: ‘The digital ID cards are using Palantir’s technology which is a CIA backed surveillance company. This does not solve the boat crossings crisis, and all us “conspiracy theorists” warned about this crisis/solution offer for months. This is intended to keep us digitally enslaved. Once they move to a China-like social credit system where this ID ties to your bank account, get ready to lose your liberties.’

These security concerns are worth raising, and they’re certainly ones that the UK is preparing to answer in a civil liberties case, which Labour MPs will know is surely already in its initial draft stages.

Identity cards were abolished in the UK after World War II, but the Labour Party attempted to re-introduce one when it was in power during the 2000s. Initially led by Tony Blair, the plan for mandatory ID cards was dropped by Blair’s successor over the aforementioned civil liberty concerns.

Despite the political and public pushback on ID cards, many countries across Europe already require them, including France, Greece, Italy and Spain. Perhaps noting that these countries have had their own perceived issues with immigration, Britain has emphasised it would take the best aspects of digital IDs in Estonia, Denmark, Australia and India in its design.

Still, it remains to be seen when exactly this new digital ID scheme will become part of Brits’ everyday reality, as the UK has a notoriously poor track when it comes to delivering major IT projects on time and within its budget.

Less than 24 hours since the announcement, a petition demanding that ID cards not be introduced has collected more than 1 million signatures. It is currently garnering hundreds more every minute.