The debate over the introduction of digital IDs in the UK has reignited after Charles shared an update during the King’s Speech.
King Charles spoke about more than 35 Bills and draft Bills during the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, and gave an update on the polarising digital IDs during which he reiterated that they would not be mandatory.
Keir Starmer proposed mandatory digital IDs back in September last year, but after intense backlash against the plans – along with a heavily signed petition – the Prime Minister U-turned on his decision to make them mandatory earlier this year.
Debate around the concept has quietened since, but King Charles this week confirmed the government is pressing on with its plan to introduce a digital ID system that ‘will modernise how citizens interact with public services’.
According to the government, the digital IDs, made available as part of the Digital Access to Services Bill, will be a ‘convenient way for people to prove who they are’.
The Bill claims the digital IDs will use the ‘latest security technology’ to give people more control over their data while reducing bureaucracy and helping the government to build the ‘intuitive, efficient, and responsive public services the UK deserves’.
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Despite the government’s reassurances, people across the UK are still expressing their concern about digital IDs – but why?
What is the debate surrounding digital IDs?
Sceptics of digital IDs are concerned about privacy, data breaches, and the potential erosion of civil liberties. Starmer and now the King have both said that the Digital ID rollout is not compulsory.
But even if having a digital ID is not made mandatory by law, it may in practice become difficult to get by without one.
For example, if you change jobs or apply for a job, if the scheme is approved, a digital ID may be used to prove you have the right to work in the UK.
Matthew Feeney from Big Brother Watch told Metro last year 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.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage argued against the introduction of digital IDs, posting a short video on X in which he claimed it wouldn’t help stop illegal migration.
Labour MP James Frith, however, argued for its introduction as a safety measure.
He said: ‘Our plan is to ensure that most government data stays where it is already safely stored in government departments, while people have more control over what they share and with whom.’
When could digital IDs be introduced?
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 designs for the scheme is still underway to ensure it is ‘inclusive, fair and follows best practice for security and data privacy’.
How will digital IDs work?
A similar scheme is already in use by the Ministry of Defence, which rolled out a digital version of its Veteran Card last year. Currently, the user signs 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.
Do other countries have digital IDs?
Countries such as 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 also announced plans last year to ensure citizens have access to a form of digital ID within the next decade.
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