No2DigitalID — Big Brother Watch

NO2DIGITALID

Stop Britain sleepwalking into a database state. Support the campaign to say no to a mandatory digital ID.

UPDATE: In a major U-turn Keir Starmer is dropping plans to force everyone who wants a job onto a mandatory digital ID scheme to prove their right to work - thanks to our supporters and over 3 million people who signed petitions against these Orwellian plans.

This is a monumental win for freedom in the UK and it shows that when enough of us come together we CAN stop the charge towards a dystopian surveillance state.

Now the case for the government dropping digital IDs entirely is overwhelming – together, we can achieve this too.

Take action now

The Government has announced plans for a sweeping digital ID scheme.

A mandatory digital ID would change the nature of our relationship with the state and turn the UK into a “papers, please” society.

It would also be a honeypot for hackers and foreign dictators, creating huge digital security risks for our personal information.

People in marginalised, vulnerable and minority groups are more likely to have reduced access to online services (e.g. people with disabilities, low income or the elderly), particularly where digital identity is a requirement.

Politicians have tried and failed to sell digital IDs to the British public as a vital solution to a range of issues including fighting terrorism and even protecting us from Covid.

But Britain has historically rejected various forms of mandatory ID. We must reject this one too.

PETITION

We’ve launched a petition calling on the Government to reject plans for a mandatory digital ID.

Mandatory digital IDs give the state enormous control and treat the entire population with suspicion.

If enough of us come together we can make Keir Starmer drop plans for a mandatory digital ID.

SIGN THE PETITION

5 KEY ARGUMENTS AGAINST DIGITAL ID

1. CHECKPOINT SOCIETY

A sprawling digital ID system would make us all reliant on a digital pass to go about our daily lives and usher in a new era of mass surveillance.

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It could easily impact a range of everyday activities from access to GP appointments, banking, online voting, receiving benefits and even trips to the pub.

We would be increasingly required to prove who we are, turning us into a checkpoint society. We know what it is like to be subject to identity checks when travelling outside of the country - imagine these borders being replicated inside our country. The state would gain enormous control and treat the entire population with suspicion.

2. MISSION CREEP

A digital ID would not only be used to prove who you are.

Digital ID systems have already been proposed as solutions to a range of issues from fighting terrorism to controlling immigration and even fixing pot holes.

Let us be clear - barcoding Britain will not solve all of these problems.

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Instead, such a system risks morphing into a far-reaching instrument of state control, such as being linked to facial recognition technology, or even used to sort and segregate people based on health status.

3 HONEYPOT FOR HACKERS

A digital ID system would force the entire adult population in the UK onto one giant database. This would create a honeypot for hackers and foreign dictators who, like we've seen with numerous cyberattacks, have a track record of trying to breach databases. They expose not just names and emails, but intimate details of people’s lives

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The evidence is clear - a majority (63%) of the British public do not trust the Government with keeping their data secure, independent YouGov polling commissioned by us reveals.

4. DIGITAL DISCRIMINATION

Mandatory digital ID would seriously damage equality in the UK. People with disabilities, low income or the elderly are more likely to have reduced access to online services, particularly where digital identity is a requirement.

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Only about 20 per cent of Universal Credit applicants can use online ID verification methods.

Forcing a digital ID on every adult in the UK could mean that a large number of people are unable to freely participate in society.

5. UNDEMOCRATIC AND ILLIBERAL

From WWII IDs, to Blair-era ID cards introduced in the wake of 9/11 and vaccine passports in 2021, the British public has repeatedly and successfully fought back against identity card schemes.

More info

The fight against ID cards is about more than just databases – it’s about protecting our rights and freedoms. It’s about empowering citizens against overbearing authorities. We are more than just a number, and registration code, or worse, a health risk score.

We must now reject plans for an all-encompassing digital ID system that grants itself sweeping access to our private lives with the promise to monitor, manage and predict us.

Checkpoint Britain: the dangers of digital ID and why privacy must be protected

Our groundbreaking new report, 'Checkpoint Britain: the dangers of digital ID and why privacy must be protected’ is a response to the Government forcing every working UK adult onto a giant digital ID system – all in the name of tackling illegal immigration.

Let us be clear - no one voted for a digital ID scheme and the government has no clear mandate to implement one.

The vital new report examines how mandatory digital ID would turn the UK into the kind of “papers, please” society that the British public has persistently rejected for decades. It lays out in detail how a digital ID system could work, how the government could mandate it for a range of public services, and the devastating impact it would have on privacy and civil liberties.

It also includes original independent polling we’ve commissioned showing that the clear majority of the British public (63%) does not trust the government to keep their digital ID data secure.

Download the report for free or read the key findings.

KEY FINDINGS

At their worst, digital ID systems can enable population-wide surveillance, curb liberties, predict and shape people’s decisions, or be abused for the tracking and targeting of marginalised groups.
There is little evidence to prove that a digital ID system would deter illegal immigration or employment fraud. It would instead burden law-abiding citizens and businesses.
A digital ID system is highly likely to be used for more than just its original purpose. The government is already considering proposals that would require digital ID for employment and rent checks.
A digital ID could be used to track everyday interactions such as voting online, paying bills, and shopping.
The eVisa system’s errors and failures raise serious doubts about the government’s ability to manage a giant digital ID system.
A majority of the British public have expressed serious concerns about the government’s ability to protect the vast amounts of personal data collected in a digital ID scheme

Far from being a backwards outlier, the UK is in good company with countries that have inherited its legal systems such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in consistently rejecting mandatory ID systems.

What does the British public think about digital ID?

Take Action

Sign our petition!

Tell the government to reject proposals for a mandatory digital ID.

SIGN PETITION

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BRIEFINGS

Big Brother Watch submission to the Cabinet Office’s consultation on draft legislation to support identity verification

Big Brother Watch Briefing on the Data Protection and Digital Information 2.0 Bill for House of Commons Committee Stage

IN THE MEDIA

Daily Mail – Starmer under pressure to ditch digital ID as opposition rises

January 1, 2026

LBC – Ministers want a digital ID. They still can’t say what it will actually do

December 8, 2025

A group of three protestors wearing Keir Starmer masks holding up a mock digital ID as it would appear on a mobile screen

The Metro – Campaigners urge parliament to “listen to the people” on digital IDs

December 8, 2025

Silkie Carlo at Home Affairs Committee expert witness panel

Computer Weekly – A mandatory digital ID could create a permissions-based society, MPs hear

December 1, 2025

The Mirror – “no one really believes” digital ID is about immigration, campaigners warn

November 18, 2025

Metro – Digital ID plans worry privacy rights campaigners

October 24, 2025

Go to media

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NO2DIGITALID

PETITION

5 KEY ARGUMENTS AGAINST DIGITAL ID

1. CHECKPOINT SOCIETY

2. MISSION CREEP

3 HONEYPOT FOR HACKERS

4. DIGITAL DISCRIMINATION

5. UNDEMOCRATIC AND ILLIBERAL

Checkpoint Britain: the dangers of digital ID and why privacy must be protected

KEY FINDINGS

What does the British public think about digital ID?

Take Action

BRIEFINGS

IN THE MEDIA

Join our email list

Donate to Big Brother Watch

Donate to
Big Brother Watch