Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has proposed implementing a national digital ID system as part of a broader strategy to enhance government efficiency, combat crime, and address immigration and benefit fraud issues. The proposal emerges as the UK continues to develop its digital identity infrastructure, following several years of debate about the role of government in digital ID management.
The UK government plans to introduce the Gov.uk digital wallet and app, which will initially include mobile driving licenses and digitized Veteran Cards. By 2027, the platform will expand to include Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and all other government-issued credentials. The initiative builds upon the UK’s existing digital identity framework and follows successful implementations of similar systems in other countries.
Blair argues that a digital ID system can help regulate illegal immigration by preventing individuals from entering the informal economy and claiming government benefits without authorization. The system would also incorporate facial recognition technology to enhance identification capabilities and crime prevention, similar to the UK’s planned border control system that will require selfies from EU visitors.
“You’ve got to reorder the Government around this technology revolution,” Blair stated. “You should be able to have a state that is smaller, more strategic and providing greater efficiency at lower cost. That is the holy grail of governing, which people have always aspired to. Technology is the instrument that allows you to do it.”
Current Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has expressed support for digital ID initiatives as part of his vision to establish the UK as an “AI superpower.” However, Labour has previously ruled out digital ID cards specifically for immigration control. Science Secretary Peter Kyle has indicated that “nothing is off the table” regarding which government-issued documents could be stored in the new app, scheduled to launch in June.
The proposal follows Blair’s previous attempts to introduce physical ID cards during his tenure as Prime Minister, which faced significant public resistance. Blair maintains that the public is now willing to accept certain privacy trade-offs in exchange for improved government efficiency. The shift in public sentiment comes as digital identity solutions have become increasingly common in daily life, from mobile banking to online government services.
The Open Identity Exchange (OIX), a nonprofit trade group focused on digital ID, has expressed concerns about government-managed digital ID systems, advocating instead for a market-driven approach with appropriate government oversight. The debate highlights ongoing questions about the proper balance between government control and private sector involvement in digital identity solutions.
Sources: Biometric Update, Expose News, LBC
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