Ministers are facing strong opposition regarding their proposal to introduce digital identification. The government is contemplating a requirement for individuals to provide ID to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. However, Members of Parliament have raised concerns about the potential risks associated with the scheme, including fears of data breaches by hackers and concerns about government surveillance of citizens.
A petition against the plan has garnered over 2.9 million signatures. In defense of the initiative, Labour frontbencher Ian Murray dismissed criticisms as misinformation and emphasized the goal of enhancing citizen-government interaction.
During a debate in Westminster Hall, SNP MP Pete Wishart criticized the concept of digital ID as unfamiliar to the British public, expressing apprehension about the possibility of Nigel Farage gaining access to extensive data if the plan were implemented.
Murray countered by clarifying that digital ID would not be mandatory, likening it to the requirement of a passport for air travel. He assured that citizens would not be compelled to present the ID cards and emphasized that they would not be labeled BritCards, as previously suggested.
Regarding the government’s reassurances, Wishart remained skeptical, likening the scheme to a Tesco Clubcard and expressing concerns about data collection and government monitoring. Similarly, former Tory minister Sir David Davis raised alarm about potential privacy breaches and likened the situation to the Horizon scandal.
Labor Together, a think-tank, proposed that a smartphone ID app could streamline right-to-rent and right-to-work verification processes. Labour MPs highlighted the potential benefits of a nationwide digital ID effort for proving residency rights.
The estimated cost of implementing the scheme ranges from £140 million to £400 million. Proponents believe that a universal digital identity credential could enhance border security, drawing on examples from countries like Estonia, Denmark, Spain, Canada, Australia, and Japan that have already adopted digital ID systems.