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The British government has finally given more details about the proposed digital ID project, directly responding to the 2.76 million naysayers that signed an online petition calling for it to be ditched.
This came a day after controversial spy-tech biz Palantir said it has no intention of helping the government implement the initiative – announced last week by prime minister Keir Starmer but not included in his political party's manifesto at last year's general election.
It is for this reason that Louis Mosley, UK boss at Palantir – the grandson of Sir Oswald Mosley – says his employer is not getting involved, despite being mentioned as a potential bidder.
"Digital ID is not one that was tested at the last election. It wasn't in the manifesto. So we haven't had a clear resounding public support at the ballot box for its implementation. So it isn't one for us," he told The Times
"Palantir has long had a policy that we will help democratically elected governments implement the policies they have been elected to deliver and that does mean that often we are involved in the implementation of very controversial measures."
This is the same commercial entity that started to work with the previous Conservative government on a database of medical records, the Federated Data Platform, which it continues to run despite concerns from some medical professionals about its efficacy.
Although not quite at the level of the six million-plus people in Britain that signed a petition asking for the Brexit decision to be reversed, 2,762,000 citizens – and counting – have demanded the "UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards [sic]."
Starmer was told earlier this week by a former comms advisor that he needs to explain the rationale for digital ID to the general public or risk it failing within six months, as political rivals fill the void. Starmer chose not to focus on the topic at the Labour Party conference.
However, more meat was put on the bones of the idea today on the same page of the UK Parliament petition website.
"Currently, when UK citizens and residents use public services, start a new job, or, for example, buy alcohol, they often need to present an assortment of physical documents to prove who they are or things about themselves," it says.
"This is both bureaucratic for the individual and creates space for abuse and fraud. This includes known issues with illegal working and modern slavery, while the fragmented approach and multiple systems across Government make it difficult for people to access vital services. Further, there are too many people who are excluded, like the one in ten UK adults who don't have a physical photo ID, so can struggle to prove who they are and access the products and services they are entitled to."
Following in the footsteps of Estonia and other nations, including China, the UK government wants to introduce a "free" digital ID card for people aged 16 and over – though it is consulting on whether this should start at 13 – to let people access public and private services "seamlessly." It will "build on" GOV.UK One Login and the GOV.UK Wallet, we're told.
"This system will allow people to access government services – such as benefits or tax records – without needing to remember multiple logins or provide physical documents. It will significantly streamline interactions with the state, saving time and reducing frustrating paperwork, while also helping to create opportunities for more joined-up government services.
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"International examples show how beneficial this can be. For instance, Estonia's system reportedly saves each citizen hours every month by streamlining unnecessary bureaucracy, and the move to becoming a digital society has saved taxpayer money."
The card, scheduled to be implemented by the end of the current Parliament, means employers will have to check digital ID when going through right-to-work checks, and despite previously saying the card will be mandatory, the government confirmed: "For clarity, it will not be a criminal offence to not hold a digital ID and police will not be able to demand to see a digital ID as part of a 'stop and search.'
"Privacy and security will also be central to the digital ID programme. We will follow data protection law and best practice in creating a system which people can rightly put their trust in. People in the UK already know and trust digital credentials held in their phone wallets to use in their everyday lives, from paying for things to storing boarding passes.
"The new system will be built on similar technology and be your boarding pass to government. Digitally checkable digital credentials are more secure than physical documents which can be lost, copied or forged, and often mean sharing more information than just what is necessary for a given transaction."
Big Brother Watch says the national ID system is a "serious threat to civil liberties."
"Digital ID systems can be uniquely harmful to privacy, equality and civil liberties. They would allow the state to amass vast amounts of personal information about the public in centralised government databases. By linking government records through a unique single identifier, digital ID systems would make it very easy to build up a comprehensive picture of an individual's life."
The government says it is going to launch a consultation "in the coming weeks." It will then "work closely with employers, trade unions, civil society groups and other stakeholders, to co-design the scheme and ensure it is as secure and inclusive as possible. Following consultation, we will seek to bring forward legislation to underpin this system."
You never know, Palantir might even decide to get involved if that consultation meets its level of satisfaction and the contract is worth enough money. ®
