The U.K. government announced plans to introduce a new digital identification scheme. Digital ID cards would be mandatory for those seeking employment, while remaining optional for others not entering the workforce.
According to the Home Office, the scheme would allow citizens to verify identity and age through a smartphone app, letting them easily access government services. Officials estimate the program could save businesses 10 billion pounds a year by streamlining checks.
“This is about bringing Britain into the digital age,” Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government James Cleverly said. “A secure, convenient way to prove who you are.”
The plan marks a sharp reversal for a nation that abolished mandatory ID cards in 2011 after fierce opposition from privacy advocates, who called the system costly and intrusive.
Civil liberties groups immediately condemned the move. Big Brother Watch called it “a dangerous step toward a surveillance state,” warning that digital IDs are prone to hacking and government misuse.
“Once you create the infrastructure for mass ID verification, mission creep is inevitable,” said Silkie Carlo, the group’s director. “We’ve seen this pattern before.”
Officials insist the new scheme differs fundamentally from its predecessor, stressing that participation is voluntary and no central biometric database will exist. The app will also use encrypted blockchain technology to store information securely on users’ devices.
Still, experts caution that “voluntary” programs often become mandatory through private sector adoption. Banks, landlords, and employers could require a digital ID, effectively coercing participation. Others warn that no system is fully secure and that a breach could expose millions.
Parliament is expected to debate the plan in the coming weeks. Nearly 3 million people have already signed petitions opposing the proposal, which the government aims to roll out nationwide by 2029.