To be absolutely fuming about the digital ID thing?

[summerlovingvibes]

I work as a nurse in England.

I just feel absolutely fuming about the digital ID proposals and don't know how to channel my anger??

I very strongly object to this. It makes my blood boil when I think about it and I feel anxious knowing that something like this may be imposed on us all.

It is not going to stop illegal immigration. That line is absolute BS. They're doing it for their own selfish reasons.

What do we do? I don't want to not work, but I am going to refuse to have one. So my employer may sack me?!

It's just ridiculous!

Obviously I've signed the petition, emailed my MP, will join any protests etc.

But practically speaking - will my employer actually sack me for not having one?

Optional for the illegals !!
yes, I can see good uptake !

@senua Yes it’s a good point, there’s already a subtle reference. This is why the government loses trust though. Why be so sneaky if it’s such a marvelously good idea? Why not put it plainly and set out your (fully costed) plans from the beginning?

I still think they’ll either drop it, or more likely fuck it up.

This overreach must be rejected.
Im terrified the gov will get its filthy mits on our bank accounts, which has happened in many countries that have digital ID.
People are so naive.

Oh the tinfoil hat brigade are out today 😂

NI numbers currently don’t have photos attached to them so there’s an assumption that some are being shared or misused.

Also employers don’t have access to the government database which brings up all your info linked to your NI number so can’t easily verify it’s really you.

NI numbers currently don’t have photos attached to them so there’s an assumption that some are being shared or misused.

Also employers don’t have access to the government database which brings up all your info linked to your NI number so can’t easily verify it’s really you.

Really? This is an AIBU thread love, you have specifically asked people whether you're being unreasonable. I don't think your can blame them when they answer your question.

For the homeless I read it as. My mistake.

Asylum seekers already have documentation.

Will you be laughing like this though when it’s a different gov? If Reform do get in for example.

Anyway why do you want a digital ID scheme, what’s good about it?

If you have a passport, presumably you travel abroad. Interested to know how you feel about EES which comes into place on October 12 I think. To enter Europe you will need your fingerprints and your face scanned in a booth before you are allowed to travel. Refusal to comply…no entry to that country.

I'm not sure there is anything you can do, other than live with the consequences of not having one. It'll be like not having a passport: you wouldn't be able to travel internationally; or not having a driving licence: you wouldn't be able to drive; or not doing online banking: you'd have to do everything in person.

I don't think you are alone, and I think there will be a growing number of people in the West who will choose to live as off-grid as possible....which will be all well and good until the tipping point is reached when there will be enough of you to draw the very attention you're seeking to avoid.

Everybody picks their battles, this seems to be one you're prepared to pick. I agree with your premise but I don't have the energy to fight this particular battle.

NI numbers currently don’t have photos attached to them so there’s an assumption that some are being shared or misused.
But you can't - under current existing rules - get a job on just an NI number. You also need some photo ID.

Good news. I’m a chartered tax advisor and happy to put some of your conspiracy theories around tax to bed. The 0.1% pay their taxes like anyone else does. I have worked in many many financial services firms and every single employee pays by PAYE just like anyone else.

The OP bemoans a future ‘cash free’ society. This would be brilliant from a tax evasion perspective as it’s the ‘cash in hand’ trades workers who fuel tax evasion in this country. 40% of small businesses evaded tax last year. That’s appalling. Bring in a cash free society where HMRC have access to your bank accounts and this area of evasion dries up.

We are fortunate to live in a safe, democratic country. I see no downsides for law abiding UK citizens. Only upsides.

Tbh I'm more concerned that the bill that brings it in for children isn't being talked about more! Especially as it looks like the data won't be deleted at 18 and it can be accessed by 3rd parties. Considering the data breaches recently and the fact its going to be using AI, it's really worrying. Not to mention it could open our kids up to being prejudged once they become an adult simply based on their background. It already happens to a degree but this information will not be erased and children have no choice about whether they have digital ID or an online presence with it or not! And they'll automatically have it once they become an adult.

Labour may well have good intentions but it's open to abuse if a party like Reform (or worse BNP) gets in because there's very little in the way of safeguards. It's happened before in Germany, some of the laws that were abused were brought in by previous administrations, and I'm not naive enough to think it can't happen again just because Labour have good intentions.

There's been a petition up for months.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/722377

It'll be like not having a passport: you wouldn't be able to travel internationally; or not having a driving licence: you wouldn't be able to drive; or not doing online banking: you'd have to do everything in person.
A very poor comparison. Passports etc are voluntary and are physical documents. This will become mandatory and all your data will be in one huge database, waiting to be hacked.

And being a country with no ID surrounded by countries with ID drives immigrants to the UK. It’s one of the factors that’s quoted as attractive about our country by economic migrants.

If that worked Germany wouldn’t have the highest unauthorised migrant numbers in the EU.

I think we can all agree that if people are voting BNP in large enough numbers to see them elected then ID cards will be the least of the UK society’s issues!

All your data is already in a big database - apart from your photo. Your NI number has tracked you through life and accumulated all this information already. Anyone who works in certain government departments can already look up this info.

@summerlovingvibes there is a protest at 6 o'clock in London tonight just in case you can go.

Hopefully that group will organise protests in other towns.

I think this would've come in earlier, but pressure groups have probably delayed it.

You could join Big Brother Watch, and Together... I'm sure there are other groups

There was a post office campaign to save physical cash but I think that's closed now.

I was expecting all this to happen by the end of 2020 so I'm somewhat relieved it's five years down the line but I'm starting to accept it will happen in my lifetime. I'm hoping they stuff it up so badly initially with trials and things, that they won't get to it until I'm dead

I appreciate if you are young, this is no consolation!

@ADHDspoonie thank you for bringing that to my attention. I didn't know about the data not being deleted.

Yes but the photo ID is not linked to the NI number so the employer sees Jane’s NI number and Bob’s driver’s license.

Germany are clamping down on migrants and are reducing the numbers of asylum seekers they take. ID cards help confirm people’s right to be there - or not.

I lived in France during the years when everybody had an ID card. It was no big deal. I didn't even think about it and respected the country rules. Nobody died from it. Nobody was 'fuming' about it as far as I remember. I think it may well be a deterrent for people coming here illegally.

@Horsehow
Fair enough that you have a different opinion about how trustworthy those in power are! And yes, I certainly pay a great deal of tax, despite the best efforts of my accountants!
However, it is not a conspiracy theory to simply point out that the world works differently for those with great power and wealth, and that things like democracy are hard won and quite easily lost.