The UK Government has announced a new digital ID scheme that will become central for Right to Work checks, marking a significant shift in how individuals prove their eligibility for employment.
As part of the government’s Plan for Change, this initiative builds on the efforts to crackdown on illegal working and strengthen border control.
The digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents and will be securely stored on individual’s smartphones via a GOV.UK digital wallet. It will streamline access to essential services such as driving licences, childcare and welfare and tax records.
Designed with privacy and security at its core, the scheme aims to reduce identity theft and simplify verification processes.
In planning the scheme, the government will ensure that it works for those aren’t able to use a smartphone, with inclusion at the heart of its design. To support this an outreach programme will be introduced, offering face-to-face support for citizens who are struggling to access the scheme.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented: “The introduction of digital IDs sets a dangerous precedent, potentially only allowing people the right to work if they can afford and use a smartphone. That ignores the 19 million people who are suffering from digital poverty and lack a smartphone, connectivity or skills, creating a black hole in the labour market and a significant portion of the population who are immediately excluded even further.”
“The people most impacted are those on low incomes, older people, young people paying for their own phone bill, refugees and domestic violence victims, as they are the most likely to not have access to a smartphone.”
“A serious concern is where this will definitely stop at the right to work? Or in reality, will it stretch to accessing the NHS, applying for benefits or pensions, or applying for training? Many of us take for granted these essential services, but the steps taken to implement a digital ID system could have a worrying impact on millions of people who are already being left behind.”
Alongside international best practices in digital ID systems such as Australia, Denmark and India, the UK government will launch a public consultation later this year to listen to a range of views on how the service should be delivered.
Meanwhile, an official petition on the Parliament UK website calling for the government to scrap their plans for digital identity cards has received almost 2.5 million signatures since launching last week.
