Compulsory digital ID will exclude some of the most marginalised members of society

Responding to news that the Government intends to establish a digital ID card system in the UK, the ‘Brit Card’, Akiko Hart, Liberty director, said:

“In a digital world, there is a greater need for a safe and secure way to prove our identities, but decades of data scandals and faulty programs suggest the Government can’t be trusted here.

“Any trustworthy digital ID system must be designed to make accessing vital services easier – not to shut people out. The evidence from countries with established digital ID systems show the current plans in the UK could create a host of human rights issues while not reducing irregular migration.

“If the Government really wants to get this right, there must be robust safeguards around our privacy and data, offline versions for people who need them, and – most importantly – any system must be optional, not compulsory.”