UK PM Starmer urged to dump digital ID before it's announced

"Mandatory digital ID would fundamentally change the relationship between the population and the state,"

"Although the current digital ID proposals are being considered in the context of immigration, there is no guarantee that a future government would not make digital ID a requirement to access a range of public and private services."

"Introducing digital ID through the backdoor, particularly in the absence of parliamentary oversight or meaningful public consultation, would be both unpopular and undemocratic,"

"We are looking at whether a new digital ID could help tackle illegal immigration, transform public services, and bring benefits to people's everyday lives,"

Seven campaign groups wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging cancellation of plans for a mandatory digital identity system linked to immigration enforcement. The groups warn mandatory digital ID would fundamentally alter the relationship between the population and the state and could become required to access many public and private services under future governments. They argue the policy is unlikely to reduce unauthorized migration and could push migrants toward exploitative employers and landlords. Existing digital systems such as the mandatory eVisa have shown inaccuracies and risk excluding digitally disadvantaged, disabled, and elderly people. A petition opposing the scheme has over 100,000 signatures. The government says it is only considering a scheme.

Read at Theregister