[gattr]

> Stored on mobile phones, the ID would contain details including a name, date of birth, residency status and crucially a photo - which would distinguish it from National Insurance numbers.

Surely it will be possible to also store it on some government-issued, GCHQ-vetted digital device, and not rely on foreign companies (Google/Apple) and their locked-down mobile platforms?

[JetSetIlly]

This is the most alarming aspect of the proposal to me. I find it wild that the government will require me, by law, to buy an expensive electronic device I don't want or otherwise need, in order to be employed. It's absolutely amazing to me that the government is forcing me to spend money in this way.

[crimsoneer]

There will be a physical card for time travellers from 1999 and elderly relatives

[HankStallone]

My government requires me, by law, to send it tens of thousands of dollars every year, much of it to be spent on things I don't want or need, in order to stay out of prison.

Requiring me to spend another $100 or so on a phone seems like pretty small potatoes, compared to what they intend to use the device for. I'm not saying I'd like it, but it's a detail, not the main issue.

[petepete]

There's a gov.uk wallet app and digital service in beta already. I don't think it does very much yet.

https://www.gov.uk/wallet

It's backed by gov.uk one login, which is already a database that contains a fair chunk of the populations' details.

To me, it feels like the digital id is more a case of joining existing things together than creating something brand new from scratch.

[masfuerte]

They've already said you won't need a mobile phone. They mention phones as a deliberate distraction from the fact that they will be building a huge central database.

I will be very surprised if the app does much more than dish up a pre-signed chunk of ID data, much like an e-passport does now. It won't actually need a secure device.

(Which isn't to say they will support anything except android and iphone.)

[mrob]

They have said it will work for people who "aren’t able to use a smartphone". Nothing is said about people who are able but unwilling. I can only assume I will forced to submit to the terms and conditions of a foreign corporation, and forced to use non-Free software.

[somelamer567]

Is there any particular reason why a UK central identity database is bad, while the French and Spanish central identity databases aren't a problem?