The UK authorities’s plan to launch a compulsory digital ID card has been thrown into disarray after whistleblowers raised ‘excessive’ considerations about knowledge safety.
Chatting with ITV News, two senior civil servants, who requested their identities be withheld, warned the outlet that the plans might result in “the worst knowledge breach in UK authorities historical past.”
The brand new investigation pertains to the federal government’s One Login expertise, a system already utilized by hundreds of thousands of individuals for presidency companies and understood to type the foundations of the incoming Digital ID.
Based on the whistleblowers, One Login failed to satisfy primary cybersecurity requirements and folks with out the mandatory clearance had been capable of entry the inside workings of the system.
Among the many considerations raised to ITV Information by the whistleblowers had been additional points about directors utilizing insecure units, which might be susceptible to hackers.
Sources additionally claimed that safety flaws had been found throughout assessments earlier this 12 months that exposed the system has the potential to be compromised.
“The vulnerabilities are commonplace issues you could not do, however they’ve been executed,” stated the whistleblower to ITV Information.
They added: “It could not take any artistic considering for a state actor or organised crime to focus on the vulnerabilities in digital id.”
The Customary has approached the UK authorities for additional touch upon the discoveries, however a UK Authorities spokesperson advised ITV in an announcement: “Defending person knowledge and the integrity of presidency techniques is all the time our highest precedence.
“We work constantly to watch, and defend in opposition to, all threats, and work carefully with the Nationwide Cyber Safety Centre which supplies recommendation to the programme on a wider vary of cyber safety issues.”
The digital ID proposal is a part of Sir Keir Starmer’s wider plan, unveiled in September 2025, to require digital ID for eligibility to work and to modernise public service transactions.
That is additionally not the primary time that safety points have been raised relating to the chance of malevolent hackers. In October, Conservative MP David Davis told a Parliamentary Debate: “this will likely be worse than the Horizon [Post Office] scandal.”
Right here’s what we all know in regards to the digital ID proposals.
What’s the UK digital ID card?
The prime minister defined that the rollout of digital ID, generally known as the ‘Brit Card’, will assist residents show their authorized proper to stay and work within the UK.
Set to be rolled out earlier than the tip of this Labour government, folks will likely be required to point out their Brit Card when making use of for housing or after they land a brand new job.
The Tony Blair Institute has touted the brand new digital playing cards as a option to “shut loopholes that trafficking gangs and unscrupulous employers presently exploit, lowering pull components driving unlawful migration to Britain and restoring management over borders.”
Blair’s authorities had initially proposed digital ID playing cards, however the coverage was shelved earlier than being lately revived by Starmer, who claims this may counter unlawful migration.
Talking in regards to the information, Starmer stated: “I do know working individuals are anxious in regards to the degree of unlawful migration into this nation. A safe border and managed migration are affordable calls for, and this authorities is listening and delivering.
“Digital ID is a gigantic alternative for the UK. It would make it more durable to work illegally on this nation, making our borders safer.
“And it’ll additionally supply extraordinary residents numerous advantages, like having the ability to show your id to entry key companies swiftly – somewhat than looking round for an outdated utility invoice.”
It’s understood that the ID card will function by way of One Login expertise, which some individuals are already utilizing to retailer a digital Veteran Card. The login can be used to handle pensions and a few passport companies.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says digital ID playing cards will present an ‘huge alternative’ for the UK (Alamy/PA)
Why is Labour introducing digital ID within the UK?
Based on Labour Collectively, the Brit Card ought to be seen as residents as “proof that they belong.”
The report says, “it could help higher enforcement of migration guidelines, and defend susceptible British residents from being wrongly denied their rights.
“It might finish id exclusion, resolving uncertainty and danger for these whose standing is unsure, and offering a fast, safe, privacy-preserving means for everybody to confirm their id and their migration standing when coping with authorities, when taking over a brand new job, or taking over property.”
A whole lot of stories are saying this might assist curb unlawful migration, nevertheless it’s value noting that it’s not illegal for folks to request asylum after they come to the UK.
Given that may solely declare asylum whenever you set foot on UK shores, it’s unlikely that this digital card will deter folks from coming to the UK within the first place.
It could make it tougher for folks whose asylum requests have been denied to remain within the UK, nevertheless it additionally might not deter employers who rent employees members and pay them off the books.
Regardless of this, some Brits seem open to the thought of getting digital ID playing cards.
Who wants the digital ID card?
Based on stories, each working grownup within the UK will likely be required to have a government-issued digital ID card.
It doesn’t matter in the event you’re born within the UK or abroad, and it’ll be free to all adults eligible to stay and work within the UK.
It’ll doubtless take a while earlier than issues are enacted, nevertheless it’s presently understood that the Brit Card will likely be made accessible through the Gov.uk One Login app.
Based on Labour In the present day, the rollout might price anyplace between £140m and £400m in taxpayer funds.
We are able to assume it could in all probability work equally to how the NHS COVID app labored, which is downloaded onto smartphones and verified by employers and landlords by way of an app.
Preliminary imagery shared by Labour In the present day exhibits an interface that options an individual’s {photograph} alongside approvals confirming “proper to work” and “proper to hire”.
What occurs in the event you don’t get one?
At present, there are various questions on how this might work in follow.
We don’t know the ultimate particulars but however, there are quite a few loopholes that the federal government might want to deal with.
For instance, not everybody has a smartphone within the first place, or is assured in utilizing digital expertise, notably in the event that they’re aged or disabled.
And what if an individual’s telephone is damaged and even stolen, and they should present a landlord the app, or else they gained’t have the ability to transfer right into a property on time?
These considerations might result in two-tier entry, the place folks with respectable rights to stay and work within the UK face extra challenges, discrimination or allegations that they ‘don’t belong’.
Labour Collectively says it’s essential to “guarantee accessibility for these with low digital expertise and non-smartphone homeowners, together with the availability of in-person help channels.” However various options like printable QR codes or on-line portals might be clunky and counter the purpose of going digital within the first place.
It’s additionally unclear at this level whether or not there could be penalties for not getting a digital ID card or whether or not you might be refused entry to companies similar to healthcare.
There’s additionally the broader concern about knowledge safety, and presently, there is no such thing as a clear plan in place relating to the consent folks may have to offer to entry these ID playing cards.
Based on Massive Brother Watch: “This technique would essentially change the character of our relationship with the state and switch the UK right into a “papers, please” society.”
The organisation additionally factors out that there is no such thing as a clear mandate for such a scheme, and it’s “inconsistent with the values that underpin a free society and poses severe dangers to privateness, safety and equality.”
Nations which have digital ID playing cards
Necessary ID techniques, the place people are required to have a bodily ID card, are comparatively widespread world wide.
Digital variations of this haven’t been extensively rolled out, however nations are engaged on ID techniques that do have digital capabilities.
Ought to the digital ID plan proceed, the UK would be part of a handful of different nations that have already got one thing comparable in place.
In Estonia, it’s obligatory to carry a bodily ID, however this additionally doubles as a digital ID, the place everybody can entry on-line companies too.
It’s additionally a fairly strong programme of identification, with varied playing cards in place that enable customers to substantiate their id, their transactions, and share digital signatures.
Based on the UK gov, Estonia’s “digital ID has revolutionised mother and father’ lives by enabling entry to baby advantages, well being information and purposes for nursery locations seamlessly, by no means having to offer the identical info twice.”
One other nation that seems to have a digital ID system is Ethiopia, the place the Fayda system serves as a digital biometric identification system.
You really need this digital ID to open a checking account in Ethiopia, however it’s nonetheless being rolled out throughout the nation.
