Parliament is set to debate the introduction of Digital ID cards in the UK today after a petition with 3,000,000 signatures demanded a halt to the initiative.
The government says they want to roll it out to help tackle employment fraud, make it easier to access benefits, rent and apply for university.
But not everyone is convinced.
The petition, signed by millions, reads: ‘We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.’
While the scheme is distinct from the controversial mandatory checks around right to work, it is one step in Labour’s plan for all adults in the UK to have a digital ID by 2029.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the debate.
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What is the debate surrounding digital IDs?
Sceptics are concerned about privacy, data breaches and an erosion of civil liberties. Starmer previously said that the Digital ID rollout is not compulsory, unless you want to be employed, but most of the population does.
If you change jobs or apply for a job after 2028 – if the scheme is approved – you’ll need a digital ID to prove you have a right to work in the UK.
For all other things – like buying booze, it will be voluntary, he added.
Matthew Feeney from Big Brother Watch told Metro that the UK needs more than just assurances from the Prime Minister before introducing the big change.
He added: ‘We have nothing to go on other than public comments from the government. We have no wording on legislation. Given that the prime minister is proposing something that the UK has resisted for decades and decades, we would like to see more details and consistent messaging.’
When could they come to the UK?
Though the exact date of a potential rollout is still not confirmed, it’s hoped the system will be in place by the end of 2029.
Work to draw up technical details and design of the scheme is still underway, the government said, to ensure it is ‘inclusive, fair and follows best practice for security and data privacy’.
How will digital IDs work?
Personal information will remain with the Ministry of Defence. The veteran will sign in to the card on their phone to verify a match with the database, according to the government.
The technology follows precedent from how payment cards are securely stored in an Apple or Google Wallet on someone’s mobile phone.
As it stands, the new digital ID would contain the following personal information:
- name
- date of birth
- information on nationality or residency status
- a photo – as the basis for biometric security – just like an eVisa or Passport, but updated for the modern digital world we live in.
While the long-term plans for digital ID involve a compulsory rollout, a plan for veteran ID cards is optional. Those who served in the military can choose to sign up and download their ID cards now.
How do other countries’ digital ID systems compare to the proposed UK system?
Estonia, China, India, the United States, Costa Rica, Singapore, South Korea, the UAE, Canada, Japan, and Italy all have some form of digital ID available for their citizens.
The EU has also announced plans to ensure citizens have access to a form of digital ID within the next decade.
What has the government said?
The government has said that the scheme will be implemented in order to ‘tackle illegal migration, make accessing government services easier, and enable wider efficiencies’.
It is alleged by the petition that the policy is ‘a step towards mass surveillance and digital control’.
However, the government has said people will not be required to carry their ID around or be asked to produce it.
On the policy aims behind digital ID, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure.
‘And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly – rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.’
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