#digital-id

#digital-id

Public support for digital IDs has collapsed after Keir Starmer announced plans for their introduction, in what has been described as a symptom of the prime minister's reverse Midas touch. Net support for digital ID cards fell from 35% in the early summer to -14% at the weekend after Starmer's announcement, according to polling by More in Common. The findings suggest that the proposal has suffered considerably from its association with an unpopular government.

But Keir Starmer, with the backing of the Tony Blair Institute, believes it is time for the UK to join the other countries, such as Estonia and India, that already have a mandatory digital ID credential. Downing Street argues it will speed up citizens' access to government services and will help employers determine whether people have the right to work in the UK.

BBC Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce plans for a compulsory UK-wide digital ID scheme in a speech on Friday.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

But leader Sir Ed Davey said "times have changed" and the party should look at the issue again and not be "knee-jerk" in its opposition. He said he had been impressed by a visit to Estonia, where a liberal government had brought in digital ID that he said was "very different" to the scheme proposed by Tony Blair when he was prime minister.

A national digital ID could hand the government the tools for population-wide surveillance - and if history is anything to go by, ministers probably couldn't run it without cocking it up. That's the warning from Big Brother Watch in its new " Checkpoint Britain" report, published just days after Keir Starmer confirmed the government is considering a national digital identity scheme to tackle illegal immigration.

Digital IDs are essentially reusable online credentials that can be used for everything from accessing government services and financial products to signing contracts and verifying employees.

The eID function enables online identity verification for various public sector services, significantly reducing the need for in-person visits to government offices.

This finder tag is designed to be slid into a wallet or purse, showcasing the world’s first Bluetooth finder tag with wireless charging.