This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Legislate against any form of Digital ID
Legislate against Digital ID to prevent digital consolidation and exploitation of our personal and private data. We believe digital ID and the consolidation of a person's private and sensitive data pose a significant threat to human and civil rights.
More details
Digital ID or digital identification refers to a unique personal digital identifier that works like or similar to a paper-based ID (e.g., a government-issued passport or driver's license) and contains the same or similar data points. Digital consolidation of data refers to the collection of private data (e.g., biometric data, health records, social benefits, work status, references, relationship status, buying habits, social media accounts, political affiliation etc.) in a so-called digital wallet uniquely tied to an individual's Digital ID. If widely implemented or even mandated, we believe that digital ID and digital consolidation would erase the right to privacy, informational self-determination and data sovereignty which we see as pillars of working democracies.
This petition closed early because of a General Election Find out more on the Petitions Committee website
Government responded
This response was given on 10 September 2024
The Government supports giving people the choice to use trustworthy and secure digital identity products, which could bring great benefits.
Read the response in full
People and businesses need quick, safe and affordable ways to check identity and eligibility in everyday transactions.
When starting a new job, renting a flat or getting a loan, people often have to present physical documents to prove who they are. This leads to repeated exposure of sensitive personal data, takes time and money, and makes some wholly digital transactions impossible.
Digital identity products make it possible for people to prove things about themselves in a secure and trusted way without presenting physical documents, bringing efficiency savings to UK businesses, whilst increasing security and saving people time and hassle.
It is not necessary for a reliable digital identity product to be issued by government, be based on a national identity database, or contain a consolidated collection of data. We instead support giving people the choice to use trusted, secure and privacy preserving digital identity services if they wish and will be bringing forward legislation to underpin a trustworthy system. Our forthcoming data bill will give a statutory footing to a framework of standards and governance for providers to offer digital identity services. It will also provide for a public register of certified services on GOV.UK, and for those services to be issued a trust mark. This will make it easy for users and businesses alike to see or look up whether a service meets our high standards.
The government is also rolling out GOV.UK One Login, a secure and more straightforward way for people to prove their identity and access different government services online. This will make it easier for more users to access the services they need, reduce costs to government, and provide stronger protections against fraud.
Neither of these systems will be mandatory, and the government is not introducing national digital ID cards. People will still be able to prove their identity using physical documents if they choose. We therefore will not legislate to ban all forms of digital identity.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology