BBW report warns of serious risks posed by mandatory digital ID

A new report by the digital rights group Big Brother Watch (BBW) has warned of the serious privacy and security risks associated with a mandatory digital ID. The Checkpoint Britain report includes independent polling data showing that a clear majority of the British public, 63%, does not trust the government to keep their digital ID data secure.

The report argues there is little evidence to support the government's claim that a digital ID would deter illegal immigration or employment fraud. It warns that such a system could enable population-wide surveillance and would likely be used for purposes beyond its initial stated goals, potentially becoming a requirement for everyday interactions, such as voting or shopping.

BBW also expressed significant doubts about the government's ability to manage a secure and effective digital ID system, citing past issues with the eVisa system. The report concludes that any mandatory digital ID system would inevitably create an infrastructure that could lead to a new era of mass surveillance, causing irreversible harm to the privacy rights and civil liberties of the entire population.