Overview
- A coalition including Big Brother Watch, Liberty, Article 19 and others has written to the prime minister urging him to abandon a compulsory digital ID, arguing it would not curb unauthorized migration and would harm privacy and equality.
- The government says it is only considering proposals, with a minister stating no decision or assessment has been made as officials explore whether digital ID could tackle illegal working and modernize services.
- Advocates at the Tony Blair Institute are pushing a universal digital ID 'superapp' for adults, citing polling that shows roughly 62% support and promising easier access to services such as benefits, local reporting and age verification.
- Campaigners highlight risks including mass surveillance, exclusion of people who are digitally disadvantaged, system inaccuracies seen in e-visas, and the creation of a data 'honeypot' attractive to hackers.
- Public opposition is visible with a petition surpassing 100,000 signatures, while political voices range from ministers open to mandatory options to critics warning of a slide toward a surveillance state.