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What is the story about?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans last week for a national digital identity program called the ‘Brit card.’ In an effort to combat illegal migration and lessen the threat posed by the populist Reform UK party, the British government stated that it would mandate that all employees possess a digital identity document.
Speaking alongside the leaders of Canada, Australia, and Iceland at the Global Progress Action Summit, Starmer claimed that his left-leaning Labour government had been ‘squeamish’ about addressing the immigration concerns.
“I am announcing this government will make a new, free-of-charge, digital ID mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament,” he was quoted as saying by Reuters. Keir announced his plans for the new digital IDs, saying the initiative will “make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure”.
The recent declaration has prompted one of the most heated debates in recent political history. Here is what we know about the latest digital IDs.
What is ‘Brit Card’?
The ‘Brit Card’ verifies a citizen's right to reside and work in the United Kingdom. Anyone looking for a new job or entering a new location will be forced to present their ID on their smartphone via an app. This will subsequently be cross-referenced against a central government-compiled citizen database. According to several reports, landlords, employers, and government institutions will be able to examine citizens' details.
The new digital ID will be stored on people's phones, similar to payment apps or the NHS App, and will include information like name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photo for biometric security. This initiative aims to reduce identity theft and preserve privacy by limiting shared personal details and using state-of-the-art encryption.
Why does it face criticism?
The digital ID scheme has faced criticism from various groups, citing concerns over privacy, security and effectiveness.
The government has ‘no intention of pursuing a dystopian mess,’ according to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. Still, civil liberty groups say they are concerned about privacy issues because users would have to provide personal information to be stored on a government app.
Professor Tony Travers noted the deep cultural opposition to digital IDs in the UK, with many fearing authoritarianism. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said, “There is a deep cultural and political opposition to digital ID cards in the UK. Many people feel they are one short step from authoritarianism and state control.”
Over 2.5 million people have signed a petition against introducing digital ID cards.
Research groups warned digital IDs could create barriers for marginalised communities and exacerbate exploitation and poverty for undocumented migrants.
Big Brother Watch, a non-partisan civil liberties organisation, has written to the prime minister, along with seven other organisations, urging him to cancel the idea, claiming it will “push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows”.
Critics argue digital IDs won't solve illegal immigration, with Kemi Badenoch calling it a ‘gimmick’ and Nigel Farage saying it will give the state more power to control citizens.
Tony Travers believes the proposal is part of a series of measures aimed at addressing immigration, but its effectiveness is uncertain. “Starmer’s proposal won’t do anything to curb illegal immigration in and of itself. It’s one of a series of proposals aimed at addressing the issue. We’re in a situation … where reducing the number of illegal immigrants may stave off the [electoral] threat of reform. But there’s no guarantee,” he said.
However, the plan was recently backed by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, who cited Estonia's advanced digital identity system as a model for the UK to follow. “People shouldn’t be able to come to the UK and work illegally if they don’t have the right to work. France has talked about pull factors in the context of the migration debate. If there are pull factors like that, we should deal with them," he told The Times.
Why does the UK government want to introduce digital IDs?
The UK government plans to introduce a digital ID scheme to tackle illegal immigration and make it easier for citizens to access vital government services. This scheme will be mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament, making it harder for undocumented immigrants to find employment.
The UK government's website states that “the new digital ID scheme will make it easier for people across the UK to use vital government services.”
According to the website, it will “improve access to public services like education and social benefits – by making it easier for everyone to quickly and easily prove their identity. It will also be available to use to prove your identity when voting in elections, and will reduce identity fraud by minimising personal details you give out.”
At the summit, Starmer said that digital IDs will “make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure” by making it far more difficult for anyone without a license to be in the country to find work.
According to him, “digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK”.
How do digital IDs work?
The proposed digital ID, known as the ‘Brit Card,’ will be stored on a smartphone, containing information such as name, date of birth, nationality, residency status, and a photo. This digital ID aims to simplify identity verification for government services, employment, and banking, potentially replacing traditional forms of ID like passports and driving licenses to prove their identity when applying for services like banking or when applying for a job.
The government suggests that this system would provide faster access to services, reduce paperwork, and minimise identity fraud. The Labour Together think tank, which is closely affiliated with the ruling party, has advocated the concept of a digital ‘Brit Card’.
In June, it issued a document proposing the concept of a free digital ID stored on a person's smartphone via a proposed "gov.uk Wallet" app.
ThoughStarmer's plan has not been fully developed, the digital ID will be possessed by all UK citizens and legal residents. It is unclear whether self-employed people must have a digital ID, but unemployed people are not forced to obtain one unless they seek work.
It would allow for instant verification of identity, reducing the need for manual checks and paperwork. Over time, the ID might grant users access to services like tax returns, childcare, and social welfare payments.
“You will need just one ID in one secure place on your phone. This will make it easier to access some services without tracking down your physical passport, birth certificate or driving licence – as well as various utilities bills and council tax letters. It will prove who you are instantly, instead of waiting for manual checks and paperwork. That means you can get faster service across government departments," according to the UK government’s website.
Speaking alongside the leaders of Canada, Australia, and Iceland at the Global Progress Action Summit, Starmer claimed that his left-leaning Labour government had been ‘squeamish’ about addressing the immigration concerns.
“I am announcing this government will make a new, free-of-charge, digital ID mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament,” he was quoted as saying by Reuters. Keir announced his plans for the new digital IDs, saying the initiative will “make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure”.
The recent declaration has prompted one of the most heated debates in recent political history. Here is what we know about the latest digital IDs.
What is ‘Brit Card’?
The ‘Brit Card’ verifies a citizen's right to reside and work in the United Kingdom. Anyone looking for a new job or entering a new location will be forced to present their ID on their smartphone via an app. This will subsequently be cross-referenced against a central government-compiled citizen database. According to several reports, landlords, employers, and government institutions will be able to examine citizens' details.
The new digital ID will be stored on people's phones, similar to payment apps or the NHS App, and will include information like name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, and a photo for biometric security. This initiative aims to reduce identity theft and preserve privacy by limiting shared personal details and using state-of-the-art encryption.
Why does it face criticism?
The digital ID scheme has faced criticism from various groups, citing concerns over privacy, security and effectiveness.
The government has ‘no intention of pursuing a dystopian mess,’ according to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. Still, civil liberty groups say they are concerned about privacy issues because users would have to provide personal information to be stored on a government app.
Professor Tony Travers noted the deep cultural opposition to digital IDs in the UK, with many fearing authoritarianism. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said, “There is a deep cultural and political opposition to digital ID cards in the UK. Many people feel they are one short step from authoritarianism and state control.”
Over 2.5 million people have signed a petition against introducing digital ID cards.
Research groups warned digital IDs could create barriers for marginalised communities and exacerbate exploitation and poverty for undocumented migrants.
Big Brother Watch, a non-partisan civil liberties organisation, has written to the prime minister, along with seven other organisations, urging him to cancel the idea, claiming it will “push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows”.
Critics argue digital IDs won't solve illegal immigration, with Kemi Badenoch calling it a ‘gimmick’ and Nigel Farage saying it will give the state more power to control citizens.
Tony Travers believes the proposal is part of a series of measures aimed at addressing immigration, but its effectiveness is uncertain. “Starmer’s proposal won’t do anything to curb illegal immigration in and of itself. It’s one of a series of proposals aimed at addressing the issue. We’re in a situation … where reducing the number of illegal immigrants may stave off the [electoral] threat of reform. But there’s no guarantee,” he said.
However, the plan was recently backed by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, who cited Estonia's advanced digital identity system as a model for the UK to follow. “People shouldn’t be able to come to the UK and work illegally if they don’t have the right to work. France has talked about pull factors in the context of the migration debate. If there are pull factors like that, we should deal with them," he told The Times.
Why does the UK government want to introduce digital IDs?
The UK government plans to introduce a digital ID scheme to tackle illegal immigration and make it easier for citizens to access vital government services. This scheme will be mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament, making it harder for undocumented immigrants to find employment.
The UK government's website states that “the new digital ID scheme will make it easier for people across the UK to use vital government services.”
According to the website, it will “improve access to public services like education and social benefits – by making it easier for everyone to quickly and easily prove their identity. It will also be available to use to prove your identity when voting in elections, and will reduce identity fraud by minimising personal details you give out.”
At the summit, Starmer said that digital IDs will “make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure” by making it far more difficult for anyone without a license to be in the country to find work.
According to him, “digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK”.
How do digital IDs work?
The proposed digital ID, known as the ‘Brit Card,’ will be stored on a smartphone, containing information such as name, date of birth, nationality, residency status, and a photo. This digital ID aims to simplify identity verification for government services, employment, and banking, potentially replacing traditional forms of ID like passports and driving licenses to prove their identity when applying for services like banking or when applying for a job.
The government suggests that this system would provide faster access to services, reduce paperwork, and minimise identity fraud. The Labour Together think tank, which is closely affiliated with the ruling party, has advocated the concept of a digital ‘Brit Card’.
In June, it issued a document proposing the concept of a free digital ID stored on a person's smartphone via a proposed "gov.uk Wallet" app.
ThoughStarmer's plan has not been fully developed, the digital ID will be possessed by all UK citizens and legal residents. It is unclear whether self-employed people must have a digital ID, but unemployed people are not forced to obtain one unless they seek work.
It would allow for instant verification of identity, reducing the need for manual checks and paperwork. Over time, the ID might grant users access to services like tax returns, childcare, and social welfare payments.
“You will need just one ID in one secure place on your phone. This will make it easier to access some services without tracking down your physical passport, birth certificate or driving licence – as well as various utilities bills and council tax letters. It will prove who you are instantly, instead of waiting for manual checks and paperwork. That means you can get faster service across government departments," according to the UK government’s website.
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