Outlook Business Desk
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, announced a new digital ID card scheme on September 26 to tackle illegal immigration and simplify access to jobs, housing and public services.
Digital ID cards are smartphone-based identification tools, like the National Health Service (NHS) app or other European digital service cards. The UK intends to replace several physical documents, including driving licences, national insurance numbers, and utility bills, with a single digital ID verifying identity and eligibility for services.
Estonia has been a pioneer in digital ID systems since 2002. Its model has shown that using digital IDs can reduce bureaucracy, lower costs, prevent fraud, and make public services faster and easier to access.
The UK government aims to simplify identification, reduce dependence on unreliable documents, help employers and landlords verify legal status, and make illegal immigration harder to sustain.
According to PTI, the UK’s shadow economy accounts for 10.8% of GDP, with undocumented workers often going unnoticed. The digital ID system aims to curb illegal employment and reduce informal economic activity.
Instead of focusing only on border control, the scheme targets daily access to jobs and housing, aiming to reduce incentives for illegal immigrants to remain in the UK.
On the other hand, critics warn mandatory IDs may enable surveillance, cause discrimination, and exclude those without smartphones. Questions remain over constant carrying requirements and fairness across different social groups.
Meanwhile, the mandatory digital ID scheme has raised privacy and civil liberty concerns. Critics warn of government overreach, increased surveillance, and potential discrimination. Key questions include whether individuals must carry the ID, how those without smartphones will access it, and risks of social divides.
Digital ID cards are a modern evolution of identity verification. If rolled out carefully, they can boost efficiency, help manage immigration, and guide various nationals to navigate legal and work requirements in the UK.