British government uses immigration crisis to force digital ID
The British government is using the immigration crisis it created to justify a mandatory digital ID program.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Friday that only citizens who obtain a digital ID will be allowed to work.
“Let me spell that out. You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
The government claims the program is designed to “curb the prospect of work for illegal migrants” and “send a clear message that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to work.”
“I know working people are worried about the level of illegal migration into this country,” Starmer said in a statement. “A secure border and controlled migration are reasonable demands, and this government is listening and delivering.”
“Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly - rather than hunting around for an old utility bill,” he added.
The British government has repeatedly defended the mass migration policies that have brought droves of migrants—particularly from Muslim countries—to its shores. Starmer himself has been accused of covering up Pakistani Muslim pedophile rings in 2008 while he was director of public prosecutions, supposedly for fear of appearing racist.
A ‘step towards mass surveillance’
The digital IDs will include the holder’s name, date of birth, information on nationality or residency status, and a photo for “biometric security.” The government said it may decide to include other personal data on the ID, which will “make it simpler to apply for services like driving licences, childcare and welfare, while streamlining access to tax records.”
But not all Britons are enthusiastic about the program. According to The Guardian, over 1.6 million people have signed a petition against the initiative, claiming it is a “step towards mass surveillance and digital control.”
Silkie Carlo, the director of Big Brother Watch, warned that the program will “make Britain less free” and create “a domestic mass surveillance infrastructure that will likely sprawl from citizenship to benefits, tax, health, possibly even internet data and more.”
“Incredibly sensitive information about each and every one of us would be hoarded by the state and vulnerable to cyber-attacks,” she added.
A recent YouGov survey found that 42% of Brits support the digital ID scheme, while 45% oppose it.
