A Mandatory UK Digital ID: Why It Won’t Stop the Boats and Could Threaten Freedom
Why a Mandatory UK Digital ID Won’t Solve the “Boats” Crisis and Could Threaten Freedoms
The recent proposal for a mandatory digital ID in the UK, often dubbed the “Brit Card,” has been presented as a key tool to combat illegal immigration and, specifically, the issue of small boat crossings. The central argument is that by making a digital ID compulsory for the right to work, the government can remove the “pull factor” of informal employment, thereby deterring people from making dangerous journeys to the UK.
However, a closer look at the proposed system reveals significant flaws in this premise. Many civil liberties groups, legal experts, and even some political opponents argue that a mandatory digital ID will not only fail to address the root causes of illegal immigration but could also pose a serious threat to the privacy and freedoms of all UK citizens.
Here are 12 reasons why a mandatory digital ID will not stop the boats and could be a detrimental step for the UK:
1. It Fails to Address the Root Cause. The primary driver for illegal immigration via small boats is not the prospect of working in a formal, tax-paying job. Asylum seekers are fleeing conflict, persecution, and poverty. A mandatory digital ID does nothing to address these push factors. Instead, it targets the symptom rather than the cause.
2. The Black Economy Will Continue to Exist. People who enter the country illegally and seek work are often forced into the black economy, where unscrupulous employers exploit them for very low wages. These employers, who are already breaking the law, will simply continue to do so, bypassing any digital ID checks. A digital ID would not stop them from operating “off the books.”
3. It Pushes People Further Underground. Rather than deterring illegal working, a mandatory digital ID could simply push vulnerable people further into the shadows. Without access to legal employment, they would be forced into more precarious, exploitative, and dangerous situations, making them even more susceptible to criminal gangs and human traffickers.
4. It Doesn’t Deter Criminal Gangs. The people-smuggling gangs who facilitate Channel crossings do not care about UK employment law. Their business model is based on transporting people, not on where those people will find work. A digital ID would do nothing to disrupt their operations or reduce their profits.
5. Other Countries with Digital IDs Still Have Illegal Immigration. Many European countries, such as France, have mandatory national ID cards. Despite this, they continue to face significant issues with illegal immigration. This demonstrates that a national ID system is not a “silver bullet” solution and is largely ineffective on its own.
6. It Won’t Stop Visa Overstayers. A significant portion of illegal immigrants are not those arriving in small boats but people who have overstayed their legal visas. A digital ID system, even if mandatory for employment, would do little to track or manage these individuals once they have entered the country legally.
7. Data Security and the “Honeypot” Effect. A national digital ID system would create a massive, centralised database containing the personal information of every UK citizen and legal resident. This “honeypot” of data would be an irresistible target for hackers, foreign states, and cybercriminals, raising the risk of a catastrophic data breach. A YouGov poll found that a clear majority of the British public does not trust the government to keep their data secure.
8. The Risk of Function Creep. Historically, identity schemes in the UK have faced strong opposition due to the fear of “function creep.” While a digital ID may initially be sold as a tool for “Right to Work” checks, there is a serious risk that its use would expand to other areas of life, such as accessing benefits, healthcare, or even voting, leading to a “papers, please” society.
9. A Gateway to Mass Surveillance. The infrastructure required for a mandatory digital ID could create a framework for mass surveillance. The ability to track and monitor citizens’ movements and transactions, even if initially limited, could lead to a future where the state has unprecedented power to monitor, track, and profile individuals, a hallmark of a totalitarian state.
10. Digital Exclusion and Discrimination. A mandatory digital ID system would disproportionately affect vulnerable people. Those who are elderly, disabled, homeless, or from low-income backgrounds may not have access to a smartphone or be comfortable with digital technology, creating a two-tier society where they are excluded from fundamental services and employment opportunities.
11. It Is an Affront to Civil Liberties. For generations, the UK has operated without a mandatory national ID card, a value seen as central to British civil liberties and the relationship between the state and the individual. Implementing a compulsory digital ID represents a significant shift in this balance, treating the entire population with suspicion and giving the state enormous power.
12. It Diverts Attention from Real Solutions. The focus on a digital ID is a political distraction from the real, complex issues that need to be addressed to manage immigration effectively. These include improving border security, streamlining the asylum process, and tackling the criminal gangs who profit from human suffering. A digital ID offers a simple, but ultimately ineffective, solution to a complicated problem, all while risking the freedoms of all UK citizens.
#UKDigitalID #SaveOurPrivacy #StopTheBoats #NoToDigitalID
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A Mandatory UK Digital ID: Why It Won’t Stop the Boats and Could Threaten Freedom