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AIBU?

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AIBU to think that Digital ID will not stop illegal immigration, and nor is it a good idea?

382 replies

Westfacing · 25/09/2025 16:08

How will this prevent boat crossings?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
sleepwouldbenice · 27/09/2025 15:48

BallerinaRadio · 25/09/2025 16:14

There's more to life than boat crossings fyi

This

sleepwouldbenice · 27/09/2025 15:52

Elizabethandfour · 25/09/2025 16:45

It’s a very, very bad idea. Do you know the other country where you need to show id to live? Communist China.

The government are facilitating illegal immigration to bring in Digital ID. The people who hire illegals will not check their digital ID.

Sorry Elizabeth, no meat for you this week as you used your car last week. Sorry Marcus, no bottle of wine for you, you bought one two days ago. It’s a slave system that will start off innocuously until the frog is boiled and our children are living in a digital prison.

On the flip side, for that idea of rational, balanced thought...
Uk is one of only 2 countries in Europe without ID cards...

sleepwouldbenice · 27/09/2025 15:54

Westfacing · 27/09/2025 08:28

For me it's not about rights being undermined - it's about the pretence that this will stop illegal immigration, as that's what this PR stunt is trying to convince us.

Has ID in any way helped your country control migration?

It's just another layer of bureaucracy that won't improve our lives in any way.

Its one tool that will help stop illegal migration
Fixed that for you

earphoneson · 27/09/2025 15:55

ID cards are just like a driving licence minus the driving entitlement) - citizens behaviour won’t be tracked and it won’t be linked to your bank 🙄
The main idea in general is to be able to easily prove who you’re and prevent identity fraud. It’s unbelievable the country managed with no national id card up to now. It makes life so much easier for everybody.

People worrying about it is baffling to me. Are you also worried when getting a passport, or a driving licence, or registering your baby’s birth?

FLOWER19833 · 27/09/2025 16:14

DervlaGlass · 25/09/2025 16:44

Where I live there's a visible problem with illegal deliveroo workers (certainly hundreds, probably thousands of them) and a huge shanty village site in a central location that border force and the police don't want to touch despite fire setting and pollution problems.

There's no question about their status. The IDs would change nothing. It's just going to make life a bit more miserable for everyone. If a Prime Minister really wanted to stop what they describe as the problem they'd legislate (primary legislation so it can't be judicially reviewed away) to require deportation prior to accessing immigration tribunals, remove legal aid and possibly put a legal duty on the police and local authorities to act. But they won't because they don't actually want to do anything that might be effective because they're against doing so but don't have the courage to say so and want to pander to the people for whom it's a priority.

Tldr ofc they won't work.

Exactly where i live they are about 20 deliveroo drivers on the pavement ,5 barber shops and god knows hiw many nail places very close to each other. Not sure what is stopping the undercover police or home office checking this. Everyone knows they aren't legal, but nobody really cares .

EasternStandard · 27/09/2025 16:33

sleepwouldbenice · 27/09/2025 15:48

This

Starmer is selling it in as stopping illegal migration. Since it won’t work why do it?

Cheetolady · 27/09/2025 18:10

Every other country has one, what’s the issue?

Paul2023 · 27/09/2025 18:15

The Lib Dem’s are against it for a start. I’ve just signed the petition

Lullabycrickets23 · 27/09/2025 18:40

Westfacing · 27/09/2025 08:28

For me it's not about rights being undermined - it's about the pretence that this will stop illegal immigration, as that's what this PR stunt is trying to convince us.

Has ID in any way helped your country control migration?

It's just another layer of bureaucracy that won't improve our lives in any way.

It might not stop illegal immigration in one da, but it’s a tool that can be used.
I see that not everyone might see this the same way, but for me is normally to carry an Id. I always found it a bit odd that Uk doesn’t have one.
Say you have an accident or are unconscious, no one would know who you are? I always found this a bit odd, but that’s my opinion.
Regarding controlling immigration, no I don’t think my original country is too happy about it, but that’s mostly because the law is not properly applied by immigration police and general police.
If they are willing to seriously apply the laws, then I think an ID could be an asset.
NiN and birth certificates and all I think can be forged more easily as they don’t have a picture and people could fake them more easily?

RubySquid · 27/09/2025 18:40

FLOWER19833 · 27/09/2025 16:14

Exactly where i live they are about 20 deliveroo drivers on the pavement ,5 barber shops and god knows hiw many nail places very close to each other. Not sure what is stopping the undercover police or home office checking this. Everyone knows they aren't legal, but nobody really cares .

How do you know which Deliveroo drivers are legal and which aren't out of interest?

smallglassbottle · 27/09/2025 18:55

RubySquid · 27/09/2025 18:40

How do you know which Deliveroo drivers are legal and which aren't out of interest?

When you see them leaving on bikes with deliveroo bags from migrant hotels.

This isn't going to be just an identification card 🤦🏼‍♀️ this is how it starts then more and more will be included in it. The migrant thing is a smokescreen.

If they're that bothered about tax dodging and illegal workers, why aren't they shutting down the dodgy barbers/vape shops/nail bars?

sleepwouldbenice · 27/09/2025 21:51

EasternStandard · 27/09/2025 16:33

Starmer is selling it in as stopping illegal migration. Since it won’t work why do it?

It's one tool to help stop it
And will have a range of other really useful applications

smallglassbottle · 27/09/2025 21:59

EuropeanPowell on X: "This does not rule out Palantir's involvement. The claim that Multiverse, led by Euan Blair, is the company chosen to produce the "Brit Card" does not necessarily rule out Palantir's hand in this. Here’s why: Multiverse’s Role is"chosen to produce the UK's Digital ID app,"" / X https://share.google/85FP9UOue7f9QXJMM

Urgh, Palantir and a Blair progeny, how distasteful can you get?

EuropeanPowell (@EuropeanPowell) on X

This does not rule out Palantir's involvement. The claim that Multiverse, led by Euan Blair, is the company chosen to produce the "Brit Card" does not necessarily rule out Palantir's hand in this. Here’s why: Multiverse’s Role is"chosen to produce the...

https://x.com/EuropeanPowell/status/1971947695674642815

Jarstastic · 27/09/2025 22:13

we have NI numbers. Employers should check right to work.

this is just thin end of the wedge.

“Sir Tony Blair’s think tank has called for the Government’s digital ID policy to go further.
Alexander Iosad, director of government innovation policy, said: “The prime minister is right to say in his speech today that we need to show people the state is on their side and make it work for them. Digital ID can and should be the gateway to this.
“The contribution digital ID can make to combatting illegal migration and the criminal groups that exploit desperate people is part of this. But importantly, digital ID can do so much more for our citizens, our communities, and our country.
“Imagine being pre-approved and notified about the services, benefits or tax breaks you’re entitled to, no more lengthy forms, no waiting, no more backdating. Issues in your community reported at a tap and tracking progress on those reports with complete transparency. A new generation of public services built on fairness, control and convenience – personalised, preventative, always on.”

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 27/09/2025 22:39

Cheetolady · 27/09/2025 18:10

Every other country has one, what’s the issue?

America doesn’t nor Australia

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 27/09/2025 22:41

Scandalous!

Multiverse....the Company chosen to produce the UK's Digital ID app..... was founded by... Euan Blair...... Yup.... the SON of former Labour PM: TONY BLAIR

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 27/09/2025 22:42

I did wonder what was in it for Tony Blair now i know

beelegal · 27/09/2025 22:48

We already have a national identity system for employment - the national insurance number.

Those working illegally work without NI number, they will also work without a digital ID card as there will be employers who will take them on.

Ironically we will need our NI number and passport to gain a national identity card. Still at least we will be lining the pockets of Tony Blair’s son.

Multiverse, the Company that will do the UK's Digital ID app is founded by Euan Blair...

Cadenza12 · 27/09/2025 22:49

I fail to see how it would have any impact on people working illegally. Most organisations employing people without the correct status are aware of what they are doing. You have to provide a lot of id when joining any company legitimately , NI number, references etc but obviously not if it's cash in hand and half of normal rates. I think it just an excuse to speed up the introduction of digital ID.

WilfredsPies · 27/09/2025 23:04

Cheetolady · 27/09/2025 18:10

Every other country has one, what’s the issue?

Are you getting confused with the physical ID cards? Because that’s not what Starmer is proposing. He’s talking about a digital ID, held on an app, which is not the same thing at all.

@Lullabycrickets23 It might not stop illegal immigration in one da, but it’s a tool that can be used How? In what possible way could it make any possible contribution to either impacting on illegal migration or preventing illegal working?

notnorman · 27/09/2025 23:23

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 25/09/2025 17:11

You have to enter the country to claim asylum. Therefore not illegal.

So it will stop all the expats returning to get their health care done on the nhs before returning back to Spain or Australia?

Spanish healthcare is a lot better than the NHS…

JenniferBooth · 27/09/2025 23:35

EsmaCannonball · 25/09/2025 17:56

Yes, the fact that it's a digital ID is most worrying. A click of a button somewhere and it could be used to stop you from accessing all sorts of things or, alternatively, compel you to do others. Big Brother, The Handmaid's Tale, social credit, controlling where you spend your money or what you can spend it on. All very sinister and all potentially one step closer if the government is handed this kind of power. Your card gets flagged and then all of a sudden you are frozen out of all services, all public transport, all shops UK-wide.

Edited

Its already happened on a smaller scale with facial recognition.

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 28/09/2025 00:17

Employers are already legally obliged to check that people have the 'right' to work, and can be fined something like £45k for employing someone who's not meant to be working in the UK.
Most law-abiding employers already have a system of checking passports/ photographic ID, as they (understandably) don't want to be fined. They don't need a new form of digital ID to be invented in order to do this.

Colleges and universities also have a legal duty to check students' status, and landlords (incl housing associations) have a legal duty to check their tenants. They are not demanding new digital ID either.

Dodgy employers/ landlords/ supposed 'colleges' who seek to financially exploit people who lack the legal right to work/rent/ study will continue operating as they do right now, i.e. under the radar. The introduction of digital ID will make no difference to them.

In every other country with ID cards/ digital ID, there is still a black market in employment.

We know that at least 5% of the UK population (many of them over 70 and/or on a low income) do not have access to the internet, and a higher % do not own smart phones.

A PP made the laughable suggestion that digital ID could be used by the police to identify a confused/ vulnerable/ demented person found wandering around - this would only work if (a) they owned a smart phone in the first place; (b) had it with them while they were wandering around; (c) the police who came across them were able to turn it on and work out the password/code (& would you really trust them with vulnerable people's passcodes?!)

What happens if you lose your phone? Or it gets stolen?
Would this result in more phone theft? And more data hacking by criminals?

RubySquid · 28/09/2025 04:44

smallglassbottle · 27/09/2025 18:55

When you see them leaving on bikes with deliveroo bags from migrant hotels.

This isn't going to be just an identification card 🤦🏼‍♀️ this is how it starts then more and more will be included in it. The migrant thing is a smokescreen.

If they're that bothered about tax dodging and illegal workers, why aren't they shutting down the dodgy barbers/vape shops/nail bars?

Oh fair enough if seen leaving from the migrant hotels. However how do you think the totally legitimate Deliveroo ( Uber, just eat, stuart) drivers feel when people lump them in with the illegals?

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 28/09/2025 04:47

RubySquid · 28/09/2025 04:44

Oh fair enough if seen leaving from the migrant hotels. However how do you think the totally legitimate Deliveroo ( Uber, just eat, stuart) drivers feel when people lump them in with the illegals?

Perhaps all those worried about illegal working should collect their own takeaways.

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