Digital ID needs to be resisted, surely?

[Honish]

There are just under 1 million illegal immigrants believed to be in Britain. The authories know who most of them are, and they are still here. Identifying them has never been the problem. We don't deport them, knowing who they are does not change this. This is one of the most breathtaking, blatant lies, made to us by our PM.

And the provider company for the digital ID, the person set make ever so many more millions than he already has, Tony Blairs son. How are people OK with this?

Because it will eventually be linked to a digital currency. If it's just destined to be solely about identity and illegal working, what's the problem with just doing what we do now? Also, Europe are bringing in digital id whereas they already have id cards. Again, what's the point if not to extend the use of digital id?

Lots of unscrupulous employers will hire the illegal migrants as they do now. Some of them are trafficked and work for money laundering operations. This is all going to be prevented by the legal population having a digital id? 😂

No it’s not. Bizarre people think it will.

To be clear, this won’t apply retrospectively to the current illegal workers - just any new ones. I mean honestly, it’s going to cost a fortune to the us in tax, to the law abiding businesses who have to amend their procedures and will net a loss.

I couldn't give a fuck if criminals have their freedoms curtailed, that's what should already happen.
What other freedoms do you think will be removed from other people?

Anything that gives (or has the potential to give) more power and control over our lives to the government is a bad thing that should be avoided. Maybe you aren't worried about it happening right now or in the next couple of years, but what about the next time someone you deeply distrust or disagree with is in control of the government? Do you really want to trust all the politicians for the rest of your life (and your children's lives, and so on) with this level of control? There isn't an aspect of your life that can't be touched by this, if it's used to its fullest potential. That seems worth serious thought and deliberation.

How do you know how everyone votes?

I already have a digital ID which works great, love it actually. Able to read gov/ council documents, sign them digitally etc. Am Polish, and couldn’t wait to have my national ID, which used to get issued at 18. Now they dropped the age, and am travelling soon to get my 16 year old one too:) what a storm in a tea cup 🍵🙄🥱

That is a fair point, but that argument could be made about lots of changes to the law. I am on the fence about this one. I don't think it will achieve what Starmer claims it will.

Why is it a priority now though, why was it not in the manifesto and why is Starmer lying and saying it will help with illegal immigration when we can patently see that it will not.

I’ve got mine from Belgium as does my DD and parents. It’s compulsory.

I wonder if Macron had a push on it for the one in one out deal. They’ve been saying for a while it’s an ID issue. It’s not of course.

This is very much a Starmer thing, all the other parties are against it and even some of Labour. No manifesto pledge. It’s amazing people are oh fine.

You have to give your id number every time you buy something over a certain amount in Spain. Had to give it for an Ikea delivery of furniture most recently

Are you one of the same posters who chortled and scoffed at us hysterical and paranoid nutters in our tin foil hats over covid? Because I had exactly these sort of laughing emojis thrown at me when I said those in power were lying about how serious it was, that there would be multiple lockdowns, that the rules were nonsensical and that the vaccine will probably end up being linked to sudden deaths and cancer.

Another example of mission creep: black boxes in our cars. Not compulsory yet, and sold with the bribe of cheaper insurance, especially for younger and less cynical drivers, who don’t remember life before the internet. How long before they are compulsory, and used to enforce travel restrictions? And don’t get me started on smart meters. Electricity rationing has already been talked about fairly recently, in a subtle “most unlikely to happen” way so we dismiss it as nonsense, thinking “it could never happen”; and when it does, because the seed has been sown, we think “oh well”, instead of reacting with furious anger. This is why we must take these things seriously when the government talks about them in a “it problem will not happen” kind of way. This government might not make it happen, but a future one could, saying “it wasn’t our idea”.

Entirely agree. It's astonishing how many seem to think they sound superior for scoffing with incredulity at these all too possible future scenarios. Why do people always think the status quo is fixed and immutable when every single year of history shows us otherwise.

Its a priority because cutting illegal immigration is a priority. Just because you've decided that having mandatory, centralized and unfalsifiable ID in order to work or rent a home in the UK wont cut illegal immigration doesnt make that true. I'd expect it to make a meaningful difference, both in terms of as a deterent and in terms of enforcement.

There really are very limited means of cutting illegal immigration. It's not just stopping people from getting here, it's about deporting them (which relies on the other country willingly facilitating their return).

The most plausible other alternative is the one suggested by Farage - strip everyone of all of their human rights and ignore international laws, so you can use force against those crossing the channels.

Personally, I'd rather have ID than lose my human rights.

Germany has the highest unauthorised migrant numbers in the EU and ID. Why will it work here?

Germany's digital ID is optional, and isn't necessary in order to work, rent, or access government services. It's not a remotely useful point of comparison in terms of combatting illegal immigration via mandatory, centralized ID.

Whatever the Govt of the day or future wants to do with it. Data is a valuable commodity. That's why so many businesses want it. Yet people on here clamour to hand it over or think it should go further and we should all be tagged with microchips. We haven't seen the details of this scheme. What is the cost, what are the parameters. Blairs son? Well he is a well known tech entrepreneur so what will his business offer? Should there not be a vetting process to see if that business is suitable? What happens if he sells it to an overseas company? Just seen that posh restaurant Cibo in Hale, Cheshire has been employing illegal workers and paying less than minimum wage. Digital ID won't stop those antics

Read your history. There is a clamour by some to get away from the ECHR so let's ask the question which rights would you like to lose?

Again, the Euan Blair claim simply isnt true.

fullfact.org/technology/digital-id-euan-blair/

I'm happy for it not to be. But Tony has form for this and now he front and centre re Gaza. Somehow his son is also in the ID discussion and now has a ton of publicity. Who knew he had a Company?

So more control then? And that’s what you’re after?

The gov could work on who is entering instead and maintain citizen freedoms.

Also expect them to be regulated eg speed so you enter a 50 mph restriction on the motorway and your car starts to slow down keeping it a safe distance from the vehicle in front. You can't speed up because your speed is governed, also your average speed can be calculated and fines issued if required. This tech is out there, it just needs to be applied. The seat heat was a genuine thing that BMW have now stopped but it's shows how you can be monetised as a customer.