Digital IDs for everyone and more cash for the BBC

Another step towards dystopia and another huge waste of taxpayers money

By Oliver May

DIGITAL Identities for everyone in the UK has taken a step forward this week.

On Friday, November 1, while most people were still reeling from the budget, the Government launched the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA).

The Government website claims the new Bill is looking to introduce digital verification without the need for a mandatory digital ID system or ID cards. Considering the current Government insisted it would not scrap the heating allowance for pensioners, trust in them keeping this promise might be a little too much to ask.

On its website, the Government said: “The Government is enabling the use of trusted digital identity services in the UK. Digital identities give people another way to securely prove things about themselves, such as who they are or what their age is, without having to present physical documents. This work is led by the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA), which is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

“The Government is also rolling out GOV.UK One Login, a more straightforward and secure way for people to prove their identity and access government services online. 

“The Data (Use and Access) Bill includes measures to establish a statutory footing for digital verification services without creating a mandatory digital ID system or introducing ID cards.”

The Bill has already had its first reading in the. House of Lords and is currently on its second reading. The Bill has not yet reached the House of Commons.

However, the Bill centres on, among other things, access to customer data and business data; to ascertain and verify facts about individuals; to make provision about privacy and electronic communications; to make provision about information standards for health and social care; to make provision about the grant of smart meter communication licences; to make provision about the retention of biometric data.

Regardless of whether this ‘initiative’ starts small, there are some serious ethical issues with the introduction of Digital ID.

They include:

• Privacy and Surveillance: Digital IDs often require collecting and storing vast amounts of personal data, which raises concerns about who has access to this data, how it is protected and how it is used. There is a risk that governments, corporations, or other organisations could misuse this data for mass surveillance, undermining personal privacy and freedom.

• Data Security and Breach Risks: Digital IDs rely on centralised databases that store sensitive personal information, making them attractive targets for cyberattacks. Breaches can expose individuals to identity theft, financial fraud, or other harms. Ensuring secure storage and transmission of this data is challenging and costly and security failures can lead to severe consequences.

• Inclusion and Accessibility: While digital IDs aim to increase access to services, they can unintentionally exclude individuals who lack the technology, digital literacy, or necessary documentation to obtain a digital ID. This is particularly problematic in areas with limited internet access or low levels of digital literacy, which can deepen existing inequalities.

• Informed Consent and Transparency: Digital ID systems can be complex and users may not fully understand how their data will be used, who will access it, or how to exercise control over it. Without clear, accessible information and genuine consent mechanisms, individuals may unknowingly surrender rights or control over their information.

• Autonomy and Freedom of Choice: In some regions, digital IDs are becoming mandatory for accessing essential services (eg, healthcare, banking, voting), limiting the autonomy of individuals who may not wish to participate in digital systems. This raises ethical questions about personal freedom and the right to opt out of digital ID schemes without losing access to essential services.

• Function Creep: Digital ID systems often start with a specific purpose (eg, voter ID or social services access) but can expand over time to encompass other uses, sometimes without individuals' knowledge or consent. This “function creep” can lead to IDs being used for purposes that individuals may not agree with or that weren’t originally intended, such as policing or targeted advertising.

• Discrimination and Profiling: There is potential for digital IDs to contribute to biased or discriminatory practices, especially if they rely on algorithms or databases that may contain prejudices. For example, certain data points might inadvertently favour or disadvantage specific groups, leading to unfair treatment or profiling based on ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other personal factors.

• Centralised Power and Control: Digital ID systems can consolidate power within government or corporate entities that manage or control these systems. This centralisation can give these entities disproportionate control over individuals' identities, limiting self-determination and potentially enabling authoritarian control if misused.

Guidance on “enabling the use of digital identities in the UK’ was first published in February 2023.

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No money for pensioners but BBC get £27million for World Service

AFTER complaining about a “£22billion black hole” in the public finances, Chancellor Rachel Reeves decided the best way to remedy that was to hand £27million of our money to the BBC.

Having stopped heating allowances for pensioners while still claiming heating allowance herself, Reeves has decided there is money after all – and gave the BBC World Service a 25 per cent increase in its Government grant.

It is another kick in the teeth for most of us who are reeling from a £40billion increase in tax.

According to the Financial Times: “People familiar with the Budget settlement told the Financial Times that additional funding of £27m has been agreed for next year, on top of baseline funding of £104m this year.