Overview
- Private discussions led by Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons explored assigning digital IDs at birth, with The Times reporting parents could be offered an option to enrol babies or young children.
- A government spokesman said the programme’s only compulsory use would be digital right-to-work checks, applying to people starting new jobs.
- The government plans to publish a public consultation in early February to determine the scheme’s scope and uses.
- Estonia’s system, which assigns a unique identifier to every newborn and later supports broad access to services, was cited in meetings, and Simons reportedly raised potential use for teen social‑media sign-ins.
- Opposition parties and campaigners continue to resist the plans, with nearly three million petition signatures and large protests, while the OBR’s £1.8bn cost estimate is disputed by ministers.