Digital IDs – the case for and against

The idea of digital IDs in the UK isn’t a new one. It was touted by Tony Blair back in 2005 and since Labour has returned to government, the idea is back on the table. 

It’s a divisive topic, with many people firmly on either side of the fence. Some believe it infringes our civil liberties, others believe it actually gives us greater control over our own data, and consequently our own lives.

So, let’s take a look at how the introduction of digital IDs could impact the UK.

Security, efficiency and privacy

Perhaps the biggest argument for the introduction of digital IDs is that they present a common sense solution to challenges we are already experiencing, specifically in national security and governance. We are already heavily reliant on digital services and for many of these we need to be able to verify our identity online anyway. The introduction of digital IDs would simply expedite this process and, potentially, give us greater control over our own data. 

As it stands, those of us who have used gov.uk to verify our identity, have in some way participated in a scheme that’s just about as close as it gets to a digital ID. If digital IDs go ahead, the government plans to introduce the Digital Identity Trust Framework. This is a robust legal framework that companies wanting to use digital IDs will have to adhere to. It includes stipulations such as explaining exactly what data will be used, and strict instructions on how data will be handled. 

Civil liberties concerns

The most powerful argument against the introduction of digital IDs is that it infringes on our civil liberties. The counter to this is simple, if you’re not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to be afraid of. However, it does sound a little like something from George Orwell’s 1984. 

It’s a tricky balancing act, weighing up security and privacy. Both are important. 

Back in the 1990s, in part after the murder of toddler James Bulger, the government proposed installing widespread street CCTV. This was met with familiar arguments on both sides: On the one hand that it could help keep us safe, and on the other that it interfered with our right to privacy. However, the UK is now one of the most surveilled countries in the world. Are we safer? It’s hard to say – too much has changed, meaning we can't compare apples to pears, let alone other apples.

Public support

A compelling argument in favour of digital IDs is that, actually, most people in the UK seem to be in favour. A YouGov poll in June this year, found that 56% of UK voters are in favour, with 26% against. This, combined with the gov.uk pilot study suggests that as far as digital IDs are concerned it’s probably just a case of when.

Effect on the gambling industry

Largely, the idea of digital IDs is supported by the UK gambling industry too. All slot sites and sports betting sites operating legally in the UK are required to verify the identity of players via know your customer (KYC) checks. These can be lengthy not just for the operator, but also for the player. Being able to streamline these checks and complete them more quickly and with more confidence could be revolutionary for the UK gambling industry. There would also be fewer ambiguities because players would have an understanding of exactly what data is being used. 

However, concerns have been raised about how intrusive these checks could be, particularly with the recent introduction of affordability checks. The worry is that these checks might already be pushing vulnerable players towards unlicensed and unregulated gambling sites. With the introduction of digital IDs there would be ‘nowhere to hide’ for vulnerable players, with their most personal financial information open to scrutiny from online casinos and sports betting sites. On the one hand, it could be regarded as a violation of privacy, but on the other, it could help to easily identify at-risk individuals. 

Younger generation’s adoption of digital IDs

One of the issues that introducing digital IDs could immediately stamp out is underage gambling. While we don’t necessarily like to acknowledge it, it is a problem in the UK. The UK Gambling Commission’s report on young people and gambling in 2020 produced some shocking statistics, perhaps most notably that more than half of 11-16 year olds have gambled, with 9% of 11-16 year olds having gambled with their own money in the week leading up to the survey. It’s well known that younger generations are most at risk of developing problematic behaviours, so this is an issue to be tackled head on.

Will young people adopt digital IDs though? Research suggests that thanks to the more ‘tech-savvy’ attitude of younger people, they will be more likely to adopt digital IDs. They more than likely own a smartphone, already utilise digital solutions as against ‘pen and paper’, and tend to have a strong preference for streamlined online processes. However, according to a 2021 survey by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), 54% of 18-24-year-olds expressed concerns about how their personal data is used. With this being one of the largest concerns about digital IDs across all age brackets, it remains to be seen how widely  these IDs will be used.

Summary

This one looks set to run and run with the same arguments trotted out on both sides. It does seem though, like it or not, that increased levels of supervision through CCTV, the plastic cards we use, the digital trail we leave and what’s stored on our phones means that we are being watched and monitored more than ever before. And that will only increase.