On 26 September 2025, the UK Government published new guidance outlining its plans to introduce a nationwide Digital ID scheme. The announcement follows broader, global trends, with governments around the world exploring and implementing digital identity systems to streamline access to public and private services.
What is a Digital ID scheme?
The proposed Digital ID would be a free, government-endorsed identity stored securely on an individual’s device. It would allow users to prove their identity, age, and residency status when accessing both public and private sector services, such as:
- Financial services;
- Government portals;
- Health records;
- Licensing and registration systems;
- Travel and border-control processes.
The Controversy
Evident from my attendance at the GRC #RISK Europe Summit on 12th November 2025, the UK’s Digital ID initiative has sparked widespread criticism for a number of reasons, the most significant of which I shall explore in turn.
Data Privacy: The Risk of Centralised Systems
Digital IDs significantly reshape the control that individuals have over their personal information. A single, centralised system that enables the government and, potentially, private sector partners to verify and exchange information generates obvious efficiency. However, it raises questions over the following:
- How data will be used across different departments and services;
- Whether information gathered for one purpose may be repurposed for another;
- How meaningful user consent can be obtained.
The government insists that its system will have security and user autonomy at its core. However, cybersecurity experts have warned that any such system will be a ‘honeypot’ for cybercriminals. A centralised database containing millions of identity records is an attractive target, and you only need to look at recent cyberhacking trends, like Kivimaki’s break in to the databases of one of Finland’s largest psychotherapy companies in 2018, to appreciate the magnitude of this risk and the likelihood of it materialising.
Social Exclusion
One of the most significant, and often overlooked, dangers of the Digital ID scheme is the potential for systemic exclusion. Digital IDs have been marketed as tools of convenience and modernisation. However, really, this can only be true for those wishing and able to participate in digital systems.
A smartphone and reliable internet connectivity, for example, come with a price tag; for individuals facing financial hardship, technological access is not a given, nor a priority. Therefore, for some, the consequences of Digital IDs are far beyond inconvenience. If Digital IDs become prerequisites for accessing healthcare, housing support, or other essential services, those without the necessary devices risk being excluded entirely. Evidence from other countries reinforces this concern; in South Africa, for example, the rollout of Digital ID systems has resulted in young people without smartphones losing access to welfare benefits.
Our government’s proposals magnify this risk. It plans to make it mandatory for employees to prove their right to work by showing a Digital ID. As unemployed people are three times more likely to be digitally excluded by reason of a lower socio-economic status, the proposition may exacerbate the position of those already struggling.
Conclusion: A System in Need of Scrutiny
The UK’s proposed Digital ID scheme promises convenience, efficiency and enhanced security. However, it clearly presents significant risks relating to data privacy and social exclusion. If policymakers are serious about implementation, clear legal frameworks, stringent safeguards and meaningful public consultation will be essential.
Eleanor Stromberg is a paralegal working in our serious crime team.
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