Last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in a press release that the Government will be releasing Digital ID Cards across the UK, including Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, by 2029.
What is a digital ID card?
The digital ID card’s primary function will be to prove a UK resident’s right to work and live in the UK.
It will entail the holder’s name, date of birth, information on nationality or residency status and photo.
These cards will not be mandatory for people who do not want to work or cannot. Anyone who wants to work in the UK will be required to have a digital ID card when applying.
Why has the Labour Government made this decision?
According to the press release, work in the UK is a “pull-factor” for illegal migrants. Digital ID is Starmer’s method to combat this, as he states, “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It’s as simple as that.”
With the release of digital ID cards, Starmer hopes to reduce illegal and dangerous migrations to the UK from channel crossings.
National insurance numbers have been the main method of proving a right to work and live in the UK. Due to how easy it is to borrow or steal another national insurance number, the Government hopes that photographic IDs will be more effective.
Overall, Starmer argues this is beneficial to the UK public, and supporters say the cards will have state-of-the-art encryption.
These cards will be on mobile devices. In the case of a lost or stolen phone, information and digital credentials will be removed and reissued. This is safer than losing a physical documentation of ID, such as a passport.
Why are people against digital ID cards?
Critics swiftly responded to the scheme, with a petition calling for the Government to scrap digital ID cards approaching three million signatures.
The petition argues that digital ID cards are a step to mass surveillance, condemning the choice to make them mandatory for work in the UK.
Organisations such as Big Brother Watch argue that the cards will not only be difficult to access for marginalised groups, but that the cards are “a honeypot for hackers and foreign adversaries, creating huge digital security risks for our data.”
They are not the only ones who have concerns about security risks. An IT Consultant in Oxford told the Guardian that digital ID cards are a “hacker’s dream.”
The Adam Smith Institute discusses the concerns of centralising important and valuable data, and how that would become an “attractive target” for hackers.
The organisation warns of ‘likability’ – if the ID is used across different platforms, it could create the opportunity for hackers to gain access to sensitive data and accounts such as banking.
Although the Government has stated that it will work to be inclusive to those who do not have access to technology or will struggle to use it, this has not eased concerns.
Age Scotland’s Policy Director said, “We know that there are hundreds of thousands of older people in Scotland without access to a smartphone.
“I’m sure many will be anxious about what this announcement might mean for them and the government’s expectations of them if they are unable to comply or access the new scheme.”
The charity organisation raised concerns about the elderly being left behind in this advancement into a more digital age of ID.
There have also been concerns that digital ID cards will not impact illegal migration in the UK. France and other countries that have ID cards still experience illegal migration crossings.
People have also pointed out that citizens can already prove their identity and see this as an unnecessary expense. ID checks are required for travel, work, loans, and even for accessing some online content, following the 2023 Online Safety Act.
Many people have been put off by the cards being mandatory, believing it is another way for the Government to control the public.
