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Mandatory Digital ID: Balancing Control, Security, and Freedom in the UK
The UK Government has a plan to introduce a new, free digital ID for citizens and legal residents over 16. Proponents argue the system will give people greater control over their lives and data, modernising public services to be more effective and joined-up, while increasing security and tackling fraud. A key focus is making the ID mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of the Parliament. Opposition raises serious concerns about erosion of civil liberties, risks of exclusion for the digitally vulnerable, potential data breaches, and the estimated high cost of up to £2 billion.
Key Takeaways
- The Digital ID is proposed to simplify interactions with public services, allowing people to prove who they are without constant form-filling or rummaging for old documents.
- The system is designed to be a federated data system, meaning private information will not be pooled into a single, central dataset, with user control at the heart of the plan. People will be able to see who accesses their data.
- While using the digital ID for accessing most services will be voluntary, it is planned to be mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of this Parliament.
- The government is committed to digital inclusion, noting that currently about one in 10 UK adults lack a passport or driving licence, and about 1.5 million people lack a smartphone or are digitally excluded. They are considering physical alternatives and face-to-face support.
- Opponents describe the mandatory requirement for work as "mandatory ID in all but name" and express concern that centralising data concentrates risk, making it a "honeypot for hackers".
Discussion: To what extent can a system remain genuinely voluntary and empowering if participation is required for fundamental economic activities like working?
Source: Digital ID
Volume 773: debated on Monday 13 October 2025
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No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.
Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0...
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By The Bench Report UKThe UK Government has a plan to introduce a new, free digital ID for citizens and legal residents over 16. Proponents argue the system will give people greater control over their lives and data, modernising public services to be more effective and joined-up, while increasing security and tackling fraud. A key focus is making the ID mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of the Parliament. Opposition raises serious concerns about erosion of civil liberties, risks of exclusion for the digitally vulnerable, potential data breaches, and the estimated high cost of up to £2 billion.
Key Takeaways
- The Digital ID is proposed to simplify interactions with public services, allowing people to prove who they are without constant form-filling or rummaging for old documents.
- The system is designed to be a federated data system, meaning private information will not be pooled into a single, central dataset, with user control at the heart of the plan. People will be able to see who accesses their data.
- While using the digital ID for accessing most services will be voluntary, it is planned to be mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of this Parliament.
- The government is committed to digital inclusion, noting that currently about one in 10 UK adults lack a passport or driving licence, and about 1.5 million people lack a smartphone or are digitally excluded. They are considering physical alternatives and face-to-face support.
- Opponents describe the mandatory requirement for work as "mandatory ID in all but name" and express concern that centralising data concentrates risk, making it a "honeypot for hackers".
Discussion: To what extent can a system remain genuinely voluntary and empowering if participation is required for fundamental economic activities like working?
Source: Digital ID
Volume 773: debated on Monday 13 October 2025
Support the show
Follow and subscribe to 'The Bench Report' on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes daily: thebenchreport.co.uk
Subscribe to our Substack
Shape our next episode! Get in touch with an issue important to you - Producer Tom will grab another coffee and start the research!
Email us: [email protected]
Follow us on YouTube, X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok! @benchreportUK
Support us for bonus and extended episodes + more.
No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.
Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0...