UK Prime Minister Plans Compulsory Digital ID Cards Amid Privacy Concerns

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to introduce compulsory digital identity cards for UK citizens, aimed at combating illegal immigration and streamlining identity verification for services like employment and housing. The digital ID, expected to be mandatory by the end of the current Parliament, will be accessible via a smartphone app and checked against a central database to confirm a person's right to live and work in the UK. While the government argues this will enhance border security and reduce illegal work, the proposal has sparked significant controversy and criticism, particularly regarding privacy concerns and civil liberties. Scottish and Northern Irish politicians have expressed unease, with some viewing the initiative as politically coercive, though government officials emphasize the digital nature of the ID and reject the term "Brit Card." The scheme draws comparisons to similar systems in countries such as Australia and Estonia but faces opposition from over 300,000 petitioners and warnings from privacy advocates about potential threats to fundamental freedoms. The debate highlights tensions between immigration control measures and individual rights in the UK.