Sir Keir Starmer's plans to align the UK's digital identity system with the EU's are drawing criticism from Brexiteers and privacy campaigners, who fear a loss of sovereignty and potential privacy breaches.
Concerns are mounting that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is planning a significant shift towards closer alignment with the European Union, specifically regarding the use of digital identity documents. A recent survey, commissioned by the Labour Party but released with little fanfare, has backed the idea of enabling 'cross-border use of digital identities and credentials.
' This initiative has raised eyebrows among Brexiteer MPs and privacy campaigners, who fear that it could lead to a 'surrender' of UK sovereignty and compromise the privacy of British citizens. The proposal, which involves creating 'identity wallets' for use abroad, is seen as a potential step towards the adoption of EU digital identity schemes and could open the door for Brussels to access Britons' personal data. This move comes amidst an ongoing 'reset' in relations between the UK and the EU, raising questions about the extent to which the UK is willing to concede its independence in exchange for closer ties with the bloc.\The concerns center around the potential for the UK to adopt the EU's proposed 'digital wallet,' which would allow citizens to store documents like driving licenses on their phones. Critics warn that such a system could create a centralized 'honeypot' for hackers and that Eurocrats could exploit it to monitor citizens. This is particularly worrying given Sir Keir Starmer's previous commitments to follow Brussels' rules on various matters, including animal and plant health, electricity, and carbon pricing. Conservative MPs like Mark Francois have accused Labour of attempting to 'salami slice our sovereignty' by gradually surrendering control back to the EU. Reform UK MP Andrew Rosindell echoed these sentiments, labeling the move a 'quiet surrender' and emphasizing the importance of keeping data laws under the control of Westminster. The debate around digital identity documents mirrors broader anxieties about the implications of Brexit and the future relationship between the UK and the EU. Furthermore, the survey's findings suggested that closer alignment with the EU standards could facilitate the cross-border use of digital identities, although the consultation's language, emphasizing 'harmonising' and 'aligning' standards with the EU, raises fears among critics. The move is seen as technical, but has the potential to lead to political submission. \Industry leaders are encouraging ministers to prioritize relationships with Europe, fueling the debate about digital ID access across Europe. The survey was conducted by the Office for Digital Identities (OfDIA) which is part of the science and technology department. It was the 'next step in an open conversation' about 'how the government could enable the cross-border use of digital identities and credentials'. This has created fear across several parties and leaders in the UK who voted to leave the EU. The concern is that they are being dragged into EU digital ID schemes by the back door, risking privacy and our sovereignty. It is thought that our data laws should be made in Westminster and not dictated by Eurocrats. Josie Appleton, director of the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life, has said that this consultation is a justification for aligning the UK digital ID with the EU Digital Identity Wallet. This is also viewed as a 'technical convenience' that can lead to 'political submission'
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