British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a plan for a new digital identity card, stating that one of its major goals is to maintain “deep monitoring” of the movements of illegal immigrants.
The plan is being introduced on a “voluntary” basis, allowing citizens to use it to prove their identity when accessing public services, childcare, and government benefits. However, a key function will also be for individuals to prove their legal “right to work” in the United Kingdom.
According to British media reports, Prime Minister Starmer, who announced the plan last month, acknowledges that it currently has “low public support.” Despite this, he has insisted on the necessity of moving forward with what is being described as a “radical policy.”
The project appears to draw inspiration from India’s biometric system. During his recent visit to India, Sir Keir Starmer met with Nandan Nilekani of the IT company Infosys. Nilekani was the architect of India’s vast biometric ID system (Aadhaar), which now includes over one billion registered individuals.
This announcement signals that the British public may soon need to rely on this new digital system for many aspects of their daily lives.
