The government is considering a plan that could mandate digital ID cards for children as young as 13.
Critics have strongly criticized the idea of including under-16s, deeming it as “sinister” and “unnecessary.” Keir Starmer has expressed a goal to introduce digital identification by 2029.
Advocates argue that it would aid in combating illegal migration by requiring individuals seeking employment and housing to demonstrate their right to reside in the UK. Nevertheless, the proposal has triggered significant opposition, with nearly three million individuals signing a petition urging its abandonment.
The government is contemplating the potential inclusion of individuals aged 13 and older. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned on LBC Radio that many 13-year-olds already possess a form of digital ID.
A review will assess the feasibility of encompassing under-16s. Ms. Cooper stated, “Everyone holds some form of digital ID… We each have various methods of verifying our identities.
“Numerous 13-year-olds already possess [digital ID], and the department will be consulting on the appropriate course of action moving forward.
“I believe this standardized process is the right step to take now, and it aligns with the measures we have already outlined for individuals coming to work from overseas.”
The initiative has sparked significant resistance. Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins, responsible for science and technology, remarked: “This validates the Liberal Democrats‘ caution regarding mission expansion.
“The government is already planning to involve teenagers in a compulsory digital ID scheme before it is fully operational. It is undeniably ominous, unnecessary, and a clear move towards excessive state control.”
Supporters argue that a new ‘BritCard,’ linked to official records, could aid in addressing illegal migration and unscrupulous landlords. In a report last summer, the think-tank Labour Together suggested that the smartphone ID app would streamline right-to-rent and right-to-work verifications.
In June, backbench MPs Jake Richards and Adam Jogee asserted that the ID cards would constitute a “comprehensive, nationwide effort,” enabling individuals to
