UK’s digital ID scheme will end the need for paper ID checks, government says

The new digital ID scheme announced last week will end the need for complicated identify checks which rely on copies of paper records, the government has said.

While the majority of the publicity surrounding the scheme has focused on the impact on people in the UK who are working illegally, the government has said the free digital ID will make it easier for the vast majority of people to access the services they are entitled to, as well as streamlining access to tax records.

‘Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK’, the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said.

“It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly – rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.”

The scheme will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents and will come in the form of a mobile phone app, similar to the recently announced digital driving licence. There will be no requirement to carry or produce the ID, but it will be mandatory to prove a right to work in the UK.

The scheme will be rolled out alongside an outreach programme, including face-to-face support for people without a digital presence, including older people and the homeless. The government has committed to ensuring the scheme will be accessible and will launch a public consultation later this year.

Although the property market has not been mentioned in relation to the plans, the government says introducing the ID will limit the need for sharing personal information and will act as ‘authoritative proof’ of residency status in the UK.

The statement added:

“It will therefore include name, date of birth, information on nationality or residency status, and a photo – as the basis for biometric security – just like an eVisa or Passport. The consultation will consider whether including additional information, like address, would be helpful.

“The new plans will offer significant benefits for reducing identity theft and preserving privacy, with security at its core. Digital ID limits personal details being shared unnecessarily, by only sharing the relevant information for the specific scenario in question. It will also use state-of-the-art encryption and user authentication to ensure data is held and accessed securely.”

The government says it is taking inspiration from the best aspects of digital ID systems across the world, including India, where the government has saved around US$10 billion annually in areas including fraud reduction.