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The UK wants mandatory digital ID  but over one million Brits are demanding 
to scrap the plan over privacy concerns

Date:
Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:01:28 +0000

Description:
The petition to scrap the plan to introduce mandatory digital ID cards has
garnered over one million signatures so far, as critics warn of "mass
surveillance" risks.

FULL STORY

A staggering number of Brits are asking the government to refrain from
introducing mandatory digital ID cards. 

Over one million Brits have already signed a petition asking to repeal the
plan in just a day, with the number of signatures growing every minute. 

Speaking from a conference in London on Friday (September 26), UK Prime
Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the digital ID scheme will help combat
illegal immigration. The scheme also promises to make it easier for citizens
to use vital government services. 

This means that, contrary to other countries that have already rolled out 
some forms of digital ID , every adult in the UK will be required to have the
so-called "Brit card" to prove they have the right to live and work in the
country. 

"We think this would be a step towards mass surveillance and digital control,
and that no one should be forced to register with a state-controlled ID
system," reads the petition, pointing out that "ID cards were scrapped in
2010, in our view for good reason." 

The sentiment of the public echoed the concerns coming from civil societies
and political ranks alike. Advocates at the Big Brother Watch already deemed
digital ID as " Big Brother in your pocket " back in January, when the first
draft of the scheme was unveiled.

Can Brit cards be private and secure? 

In its official announcement , the UK government ensured that the digital ID
scheme is "designed with best-in-class security at its core" and "credentials
will be stored directly on peoples own device." 

The system, the government explained, uses "state-of-the-art encryption and
authentication technology" to keep data private and secure. 

These details don't seem to be enough to convince critics, though. 

According to Silkie Carlo, Director of UK-based privacy advocate group Big
Brother Watch, digital IDs won't do anything to stop illegal immigrants from
getting into the UK. But they will rather make Britain less free and safe. 

"Incredibly sensitive information about each and every one of us would be
hoarded by the state and vulnerable to cyber attacks," Carlo wrote . 

After all, the UK public system has a bad track record in keeping people's
data safe. In March last year, for example, a ransomware gang hacked into NHS
Dumfries and Galloway 's digital database and stole 3TB of identifying
information belonging to both staff and patients. 

Then there's the Online Safety Act, which experts warn could still pose a
threat to strong encryption .

The Brit card scheme isn't exactly convincing the political world, either. 

Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana deemed mandatory digital ID as "digital
checkpoints," which would lead Britons to live their daily lives in "constant
surveillance." 

On a similar note, the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, said that he is
"firmly opposed" to the proposal, arguing that "it will make no difference to
illegal immigration, but it will be used to control and penalise the rest of
us." 

Critical voices even come from within Starmer's party, with Nadia Whittome
labeling the plan as "divisive, authoritarian nonsense."

What's next? 

Parliament should be set to consider the petition for debate now that it's
received more than 100,000 signatures.  So, we have to wait and see what the
response will be. 

Starmer remains confident that the plan would help crack down on illegal
working and promote the country's digitalization, describing digital ID as 
"an enormous opportunity for the UK." 

The government is now set to "listen to a range of views on how the service
will be delivered" as part of a public consultation later in the year. 

If successful, the UK will join a few European nations that have already
rolled out their own iteration under the EU Digital Identity Wallet schem e.
With a big difference, though: Brits will be forced to join, no matter if 
they wish to or not.

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/the-uk-wants-mandatory-digi
tal-id-but-over-one-million-brits-are-demanding-to-scrap-the-plan-over-privacy
-concerns

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