Digital ID is for convenience, not control. Anything beyond minimal equivalence is overreach β and should be refused.
Why Digital ID Matters
Digital identity systems promise faster access to services, simplified verification, and fewer documents β but they also risk privacy intrusion, fraud, and overreach.
Citizens must ensure any digital ID remains strictly equivalent to existing forms of identification.
Minimal Digital ID Should Include Only
- Passport β Proof of nationality and identity
- Driving licence β Proof of age and residence
- NHS number β Verification for health services
- National Insurance number β Verification for employment and benefits
Key Principles:
β
Identity verification only
β
Transparency and voluntary participation
β
Privacy by design, minimal data exposure
Risks of Overreach
Privacy Intrusion
- Linking databases or adding biometrics/location tracking creates a βsuperprofile.β
- Citizens lose control over personal data.
Security & Fraud
- Centralized systems tied to finance or government accounts are prime targets.
- Identity theft, phishing, and synthetic identities increase.
- One breach could affect millions.
Regulatory Exposure
- Banks and ID providers may face legal consequences for fraud or misuse.
Function Creep
- Gradual expansion beyond original intent erodes consent and trust.
Fair Costs & Accessibility
- Changes for marriage, legal name changes, or transitional matters should be one low-cost fee, lower than current updates for passports or licences.
- Digital ID must remain accessible to all, including digitally excluded or vulnerable citizens.
Citizen Action
- Reject features beyond minimal equivalence.
- Demand transparency and voluntary participation.
- Insist on strong safeguards: encryption, fraud monitoring, clear liability.
- Promote awareness of risks and ethical concerns.
Ethical & Storytelling Perspective
- How does convenience versus privacy shape society?
- What happens when identity verification links to finance or government databases?
- Explore unintended consequences: exclusion, fraud, coercion, societal dependence.
Conclusion
Digital ID must be minimal, secure, and citizen-controlled:
- Only passport, driving licence, NHS number, and National Insurance number.
- Low-cost updates for life transitions.
- Anything beyond this is overreach β citizens should refuse it.
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