Government responds after 2,700,000 people sign petition to scrap Digital ID cards

The government has dismissed a petition with more than 2.7million signatures calling for Digital ID cards to be scrapped.

Last month, labor announced it wanted to follow in Estonia’s footsteps to bring in a digital ID system, providing a free national ID for all UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 or over.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said the so-called Brit Cards would ‘make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure’.

The announcement immediately drew criticism, raising concerns about ‘mass surveillance and digital control’, the risk of hacking, and branded a ‘dystopian nightmare’.

Some critics vowed to turn back to Nokia 3310s and other non-smart phones to avoid carrying a Digital ID around with them – although a minister confirmed people wouldn’t be required to carry their ‘card’ on their phone while out and about.

A petition against Digital ID was set up on the official UK Government and Petitions site shortly after the announcement.

It quickly reached 100,000 signatures, meaning the subject must be considered for a debate in Parliament.

Within days the petition reached 2million signatures – and now, at more than 2.7million signatures, the government has responded to say it still intends to go ahead with the plans.

The full response said the government is committed to ‘making people’s everyday lives easier and more secure’ and bring in Digital ID as part of labor’s manifesto commitment to modernise the government.

The government said it would not be a criminal offense to not hold a Digital ID, and police would not be allowed to demand to see it as part of a ‘stop and search’.

It also said ‘privacy and security’ will be central to the program, and added that people already use and trust digital credentials on their phones, from boarding passes to virtual wallets.

‘The new system will be built on similar technology and be your boarding pass to government,’ the response says.

While there are plans to launch a public consultation in the coming weeks, working alongside employers, trade unions, civil society groups and other stakeholders, the response says it will ‘seek to bring forward legislation to underpin this system’ – meaning the government intends to go ahead with their plans.

The response, from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, says: ‘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.

‘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 1 in 10 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.

‘To tackle these interlinked issues, we will introduce a new national digital ID. Over time, people will be able to use it to seamlessly access a range of public and private sector services, with the aim of making our everyday lives easier and more secure.

‘It will not be compulsory to obtain a digital ID but it will be mandatory for some applications.

‘Over time, 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.

‘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.’

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