U.K. to Curb Illegal Working, Ease Service Access with New Digital ID

In Focus

• U.K. Government introduces a digital ID to ease access to critical services and stop illegal working
• The digital ID will be mandatory for all U.K. citizens and legal residents
• The U.K. digital ID is expected to increase regulatory compliance and streamline tax records
• Legal experts have raised concerns over the security of personal data arising from the digital ID

The U.K. government will introduce a digital ID scheme to ease access to vital services and curb illegal working. According to UKTech News, the U.K. digital ID scheme will be accessible to all British citizens and legal residents and is expected to replace complex identity checks that depend on manual records.

The British government is increasingly integrating technology in its operations. Recently, the country signed a tech prosperity deal with the U.S., unlocking over $42 billion in AI investments in partnerships around AI, civil nuclear energy, and quantum computing.

Digital ID to Do More than Identity Checks

With the mandatory digital ID, U.K. residents can apply for services like childcare, driving licenses, and welfare, and streamline tax records. The ID will be fitted in mobile devices and will be required for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament.

“Digital ID, done correctly and responsibly, can open the door to a whole new model of services that come to you when you need them. Not only do 62% of Brits spanning the whole spectrum of politics want digital ID, but that they want it to do more than just prove who they are,” Director of Government Innovation at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change Alexander Iosad said.

The ID is part of the government’s mission to control borders and address illegal working in the U.K. under the Plan for Change strategy. The U.K. government is bringing a new identity regulation to help curb illegal working in the gig economy.

Since the current administration took office, illegal working arrests have increased by 50%. Announcing the digital ID, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government is delivering on border security and controlled migration.

“Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. It will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly,” Prime Minister Starmer said.

Starmer’s announcement comes just a day after the U.K. government announced that an AI fraud detection tool helped with the recovery of close to £500 million in the last one year.

Key Takeaways:

• U.K.’s digital ID will be fitted in mobile devices and replaces complex manual identity checks
• 62% of Brits want digital ID, but they want it to do more than just prove who they are
• The digital ID is part of U.K. government’s border control and security efforts under the Plan for Change Strategy
• With the digital ID, it will be difficult for people to work in the country illegally

Boosting Regulatory Compliance

The U.K. government expects the digital ID to aid in regulatory compliance and facilitate crack downs on forged documents. The ID will also generate intelligence data on entities that conduct checks that enable the Home Office to find employers who hire illegally.

“Through the government’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF), certified providers like Yoti are already carrying out millions of age and identity checks every month, supporting Right to Work, Right to Rent, DBS, and more. This thriving private sector ecosystem shows that digital ID is not a future concept, it’s here today, trusted by businesses and millions of people across the UK,” Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer at Yoti said.

Personal Data Security Concerns

While the digital ID uses state-of-the-art encryption and user authentication to ensure secure data access, legal experts have raised concerns regarding data protection.

“The U.K.’s state appointed data protection authority has become increasingly weak, lenient and disinclined to punish wrongdoing, especially by public bodies. This could result in a situation where the government is not effectively held to account for use or misuse of personal data arising from digital ID cards,” AI and Data lawyer Matthew Holman said.

U.K.’s Home Office maintained Apple backdoor demand in an attempt to access customer data, a move that lobby groups have termed as illogical.