Who Owns Your Identity
Britain’s new BritCard system would store ID on smartphones, serving as mandatory proof of the right to work. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “as simple as that,” saying no one could work without it. Officials claim the digital ID will tighten border security, reduce identity theft, and simplify access to childcare and welfare. Yet critics warn of government overreach, pointing to a million-signature petition and citing risks of surveillance. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch opposes mandatory IDs, while Nigel Farage doubts the system will deter migration. Civil liberties groups caution against constant monitoring, noting China’s digital ID as a warning. Other nations like Australia and Estonia use such systems, but Britain’s debate reflects deep unease over privacy and control.
Katie Chan, Bank of England, 2013. CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.