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Mandatory digital ID launch called 'a fiasco' by scrutiny committee
TL;DR
The launch of the UK government's mandatory digital ID has been criticized as a 'fiasco' by the home affairs select committee. Initially proposed by Sir Keir Starmer, the plan has shifted to a non-compulsory model after public backlash.
Key points
- UK government's digital ID launch criticized as a fiasco
- Sir Keir Starmer proposed mandatory digital ID last year
- Public backlash led to a shift to non-compulsory digital ID
- Home Affairs Committee Chair Dame Karen Bradley's comments
- Government's initial plans for digital ID were poorly executed
The launch of plans for government-issued digital ID for all British adults last year has been labelled "nothing short of a fiasco" by the home affairs select committee.
Sir Keir Starmer announced he wanted to bring in compulsory digital ID for workers in September last year, but U-turned three months later following a major public backlash.
Having initially insisted a digital "Britcard" would be mandatory and help to tackle illegal working, the government has now shifted to introducing non-compulsory digital ID.
Home Affairs Committee Chair Dame Karen Bradley said the government was right to introduce digital ID but had botched the launch.
In a report setting out the committee's investigation into the launch and subsequent changes to the digital ID policy, Dame Karen said: "The government's early attempts to set out its plans for digital ID were nothing short of a fiasco.
"To the public this announcement came out of the blue and made little sense.
"It raised fears of government over-reach into people's lives and was so poorly thought out that they had few answers to ease these concerns."
She added public opinion had broadly been in favour of moving away from paper to digital ID before they were "spooked" by "badly explained" plans.
The government is still pressing ahead with making digital identification, in the form of an app stored on smartphones, similar to digital bank cards, available to those who want one.
The ID will include information on the holders' residency status, name, date of birth, nationality and their photo, which can be used to be used to verify a person's age and their right to live and work in the UK.
Sir Keir had initially tried to set out how moving ID verification online could reduce current issues with the use of fake documents and borrowed National Insurance numbers being used by illegal workers.
But the idea came under immediate pressure from political opponents and civil liberties campaigners, including Big Brother Watch, highlighting concerns around privacy.
A UK Parliament petition opposing digital IDs warned the scheme could lead to "mass surveillance and digital control" and quickly picked up three million signatures.
By January, the mandatory element of the plans had been abandoned, in what was seen as the latest in a series of climbdowns by Sir Keir.
Q&A
What did the home affairs select committee say about the digital ID launch?
The home affairs select committee described the launch of the mandatory digital ID as 'nothing short of a fiasco'.
Why did Sir Keir Starmer change the digital ID policy?
Sir Keir Starmer U-turned on the compulsory digital ID policy due to significant public backlash against the initial proposal.
What is the current status of the UK's digital ID initiative?
The UK government has shifted from a mandatory digital ID to a non-compulsory model following criticism and public opposition.
Who is Dame Karen Bradley and what did she say about the digital ID?
Dame Karen Bradley is the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, and she stated that the government's early attempts to launch the digital ID were poorly executed.
