OPPOSE MANDATORY DIGITAL ID
Labour has confirmed it will press ahead with a national digital ID card system. Any system forced on us that is designed to exclude people from vital services like housing and employment will not win the support of the British public and is bound to fail.
In a digital world, there is a greater need for a safe and secure way to prove our identities, but decades of data scandals and faulty programs suggest the Government needs to think about this very carefully and learn from best practice around the world. Under current plans, the so-called ‘Brit Card’ would only be mandatory for employment checks, but officials have already let slip to some journalists that the Government will look at expanding this.
A digital ID system won't reduce irregular migration. But it will create a host of human rights issues. The Government should not pursue a policy that not only won't achieve its goals, but will lead to discrimination and exclusion in the process. Compulsory digital ID will exclude some of the most marginalised members of society, including those in poverty and the elderly, from housing and employment. We must always retain the right to verify our identity offline to limit the harms of this digital exclusion.
There must be robust safeguards around our privacy and data, offline versions for people who need them, and most importantly any system must be optional, not mandatory.
If you agree, join our campaign today.
