Labour’s double-downed response to an anti-digital ID card petition states they are consulting whether children as young as 13 should get digital ID cards too.
Digital ID cards have been hot discussion since the Governments press release last month.
Sky News states that the focus for digital ID cards has shifted from illegal immigration to public convenience, from their conversation with Prime Minister Kier Starmer.
The Government’s reasoning for children joining the digital ID card scheme is due to 13-year-olds ability to work in certain council areas. However, that is only with strict rules, and a council issued work pass.
Yvette Cooper defended lowering the age of digital ID cards, telling LBC that “lots of 13-year-olds already do” have digital ID cards. She did not give examples of these forms of ID however.
Digital ID Cards ‘sinister’
Many have spoken out against this development, and the scheme in general.
Liberal Democrats party’s science and technology spokesperson told BBC, “It is frankly sinister, unnecessary, and a clear step towards state overreach,”
Big Brother Watch has been a big advocate against digital ID cards since their press release also spoke out against the development.
Director Silkie Carlo also stated it was “sinister” to the BBC.
“The prospects of enrolling even children into this sprawling biometric ID system is sinister, unjustified and prompts the chilling question of just what Starmer’s government think the digital ID will be used for in the future.
SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney has outright criticised the entire scheme. He slammed Starmer for spending mass amounts of money on ID cards while there is a cost-of-living-crisis happening in Britain.
Swinney also stated Scotland will not be contributing consensually in the ID scheme. “We believe it is an idea that requires Scotland’s consent, and we will not give that consent in the Scottish Parliament.
“There are things that we can do to block the idea in Scotland and one of those things is to refuse to give legislative consent.”
There is little support for the Government’s plans for ID cards, with many believing it is too invasive of the Government.
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