Comment by zarzavat
I assume that almost everyone in the UK who is able to work has a smartphone already.
If they were to require digital ID for pensions or disability benefits there would be more problems.
I assume that almost everyone in the UK who is able to work has a smartphone already.
If they were to require digital ID for pensions or disability benefits there would be more problems.
Even if that were the case, by what mechanism are they commandeering it? That's essentially what I was thinking about in this India case.
Undoubtedly most people will comply, but there will be a few who don't, so I'm curious what the plan is to bring them in line.
UK isn't commandeering anything.
The UK government hasn't decided yet how digital ID will work, currently it's just a talking point. Probably it will be an app that you install, like the NHS app. Nobody is proposing that it be installed by default.
Apple separately announced that a Digital ID feature will be built into iOS[0] which the UK may use or not use.
> few who don't, so I'm curious what the plan is to bring them in line
They will be told by their employer to get it otherwise they will lose their job. Just the same as now, only at the moment you need a paper passport rather than a smartphone.
[0] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/11/apple-introduces-digi...
> Probably it will be an app that you install, like the NHS app. Nobody is proposing that it be installed by default.
Whether it comes pre-installed or not is a distinction without difference if you need it for daily life
Edit: In fact, it would be better if it came pre-installed (and be removable) because then you don't need to agree to Google's terms of service to get the APK file. You would get it straight from your OS vendor which is presumably a trusted party if you intend on using that device. (Governments are usually not so forward-thinking that they let you get the APK file from the govt website directly without needing to go through commercial entities for something as essential as a national healthcare app. That would be an even better solution...)
> Probably it will be an app that you install, like the NHS app.
You do not have to use the NHS app. There is a website version.
> Just the same as now, only at the moment you need a paper passport rather than a smartphone.
Which demonstrates how little it achieves. People already need some form of ID for lots of things (notably work and renting housing). It does not have to be a passport though.
You do not need any form of photo or biometric id to work in the UK. I have never given anything of the sort, and have worked here for decades.
All that is required is a national insurance number (equivalent of Social Security Number in US).
You don't even need a photo ID to open a bank account in the UK
> Undoubtedly most people will comply, but there will be a few who don't, so I'm curious what the plan is to bring them in line.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by non compliance? Without the ID you will have significantly worse access to services and employers. I think the pressure will be on the people, not the government, to comply.
There’s a famous article by Terence Eden about the kind of devices that people are forced to use to interact with the UK Government, written with his experiences working for the government.
The devices include: A Playstation Portable. The latest stats include thousands of visits from XBox and Playstation consoles.
All modern smartphone requirements boil down to Play Integrity and iOS AppStore attestations.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/01/the-unreasonable-effectiven...