This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czjvrgd48evo

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Government to consult on digital IDs for 13-year-olds Government to consult on digital IDs for 13-year-olds
(about 4 hours later)
The government will consult on whether children aged between 13 and 16-years-old should be included in the digital ID roll-out. The government will consult on whether children aged between 13 and 16-years-old should be included in roll-out of planned digital IDs.
There has been a backlash to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's announcement that a UK-wide digital ID scheme will be introduced before 2029, with a petition attracting nearly three million signatures. The proposed UK-wide scheme will be introduced by 2029, and available to all UK citizens and legal residents but only mandatory in order to work.
An official response to that petition confirmed the consultation will also consider whether to make digital ID available to children aged 13 years old and up. There has been a backlash to the scheme, with a petition attracting nearly three million signatures.
Under the government plans, digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents but only mandatory in order to work. It will be optional for students, pensioners or others not seeking work. But on Friday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the plan, telling LBC "lots of 13-year-olds already" have digital IDs and that standardising the process would help.
The UK Parliament petition opposes the creation of any national ID system and demands the government ditch its plans, which petitioners claim "would be a step towards mass surveillance and digital control". A spokesperson said the government "need to consult" on including children as young as 13, since many already work part-time.
The number of signatures means the issue will be debated by MPs in the coming weeks and has also received an official government response, confirming plans to introduce digital ID "to help tackle illegal migration, make accessing government services easier, and enable wider efficiencies". "As we announced, it will be a legal requirement for employers to check someone's digital ID as part of Right to Work checks." the government spokesperson added.
The statement says: "This is not a card but a new digital identity that will be available for free to all UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over (although we will consider through consultation if this should be age 13 and over). "Children can work part-time from the age of 14. In some local council areas this is from the age of 13."
"Over time, people will be able to use it to seamlessly access a range of public and private sector services, with the aim of making our everyday lives easier and more secure. Under the proposals, digital ID will be available for free to all UK citizens and legal residents. It will be mandatory only for those seeking employment, while remaining optional for students, pensioners and others not entering the workforce.
"It will not be compulsory to obtain a digital ID but it will be mandatory for some applications."
Defending the plans to consider the inclusion of 13 to 16-year-olds in the scheme, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told LBC: "Everybody has forms of digital ID... We all have different ways of having to prove who we are.Defending the plans to consider the inclusion of 13 to 16-year-olds in the scheme, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told LBC: "Everybody has forms of digital ID... We all have different ways of having to prove who we are.
"Lots of 13-year-olds already do [have a form of digital ID], and what the department is going to be consulting on is exactly how that should be taken forward."Lots of 13-year-olds already do [have a form of digital ID], and what the department is going to be consulting on is exactly how that should be taken forward.
"I do think that this is the right way forward, to have this standardised process now, and it's something that we had been already setting out for people who come to work from abroad.""I do think that this is the right way forward, to have this standardised process now, and it's something that we had been already setting out for people who come to work from abroad."
The UK petition opposing the IDs warns the scheme could lead to "mass surveillance and digital control".
However, civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch branded the scheme "Orwellian" and urged MPs to reject plans.However, civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch branded the scheme "Orwellian" and urged MPs to reject plans.
Director Silkie Carlo said: "The prospects of enrolling even children into this sprawling biometric ID system is sinister, unjustified and prompts the chilling question of just what Starmer's government think the digital ID will be used for in the future.Director Silkie Carlo said: "The prospects of enrolling even children into this sprawling biometric ID system is sinister, unjustified and prompts the chilling question of just what Starmer's government think the digital ID will be used for in the future.
"At a time when parents are taking a critical view of whether children should have smartphones, it is shocking that the government is considering enroling children into this digital ID app. "At a time when parents are taking a critical view of whether children should have smartphones, it is shocking that the government is considering enrolling children into this digital ID app."
"We now know that digital IDs could be used for everything from tax and benefits to banking and education -- it has all the hallmarks of a sprawling national database that Britain has long rejected."
The Liberal Democrats said the consultation on offering digital ID to 13-year-olds showed they had been right to warn about "mission creep".The Liberal Democrats said the consultation on offering digital ID to 13-year-olds showed they had been right to warn about "mission creep".
"It's frankly sinister, unnecessary, and a clear step towards state overreach," said the party's science and technology spokesperson Victoria Collins. "It is frankly sinister, unnecessary, and a clear step towards state overreach," said the party's science and technology spokesperson Victoria Collins.
During a trip to India this week, Sir Keir praised the country's Aadhaar digital ID system, which is far more extensive than the plans initially announced for the UK and involves the storing of biometric data, as a "massive success". During a trip to India this week, Sir Keir praised the country's far more extensive Aadhaar digital ID system, which includes biometric data, as a "massive success".
He signalled Britain could use the technology for services like banking, pointing to New Delhi's scheme as an example, and said ministers must "make the case" for the "huge benefits" the scheme could offer. He suggested similar technology could be used in UK banking and public services.
No 10 said Britain's system would not necessarily copy India's biometric data usage and signalled the UK scheme would be run by the public sector. Downing Street later clarified his comments, stating the UK scheme would not necessarily replicate India's biometric model and would be run by the public sector.
Other countries that already have digital ID systems include Estonia, Demark and Spain, as well as Canada and Japan. Other countries that already have digital ID systems include Estonia, Denmark and Spain, as well as Canada and Japan.
The European Union is introducing the Digital Identity (eID) Wallet, which all member states will be required to roll out to citizens by the end of 2026.The European Union is introducing the Digital Identity (eID) Wallet, which all member states will be required to roll out to citizens by the end of 2026.
Digital ID schemes are also being piloted in non-EU countries Norway, Iceland, and Ukraine.Digital ID schemes are also being piloted in non-EU countries Norway, Iceland, and Ukraine.
Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.