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Britain to introduce compulsory digital ID for workers

(www.reuters.com)
525 points alex77456 | 8 comments | 26 Sep 25 02:09 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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isodev ◴[26 Sep 25 03:21 UTC] No.45382255[source]▶
I’ve always lived in places where having an ID on you has been part of your “citizen responsibilities”. So reading the post my feeling was “oh cool, they’re getting a new eID-like system”. But I imagine it’s a huge step if folks could get by without an ID at all.
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Nursie ◴[26 Sep 25 03:56 UTC] No.45382459[source]▶
In the UK it has never been compulsory to carry ID, even when driving.

At a traffic stop the police have the option to require you to present documents at a police station within seven days if they think something is fishy.

And people do seem to exist quite happily without formal identification. As someone who has always had a passport and driving license it was a bit of an eye-opener to me, but if you don't drive and don't travel, some folks just get by without.

So if there is a requirement to have a Britcard, and to present your 'Britcard' when stopped for any reason, then it is definitely a change.

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1. userbinator ◴[26 Sep 25 04:15 UTC] No.45382577[source]▶
That is very surprising. In the US, you are legally required to carry your license when driving. If you are caught driving without one, expect to be arrested.
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2. kimixa ◴[26 Sep 25 04:34 UTC] No.45382671[source]▶
Also the US reserves the right to demand ID if you're within 100 miles of a border - which is effectively 2/3 of the population. And detain you until your status can be "verified", however long that could take.

That should only be for non-citizens, but I have no idea how you could prove that without documentation in the first place.

So for the vast majority of Americans, you probably have to be carrying ID at all times anyway, else you risk someone deciding you "might" not actually be a citizen.

If this same rule was enacted in the UK, there would be no place on the British Isles that would be excluded, as nowhere is more than 100 miles from the coast.

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3. touristtam ◴[26 Sep 25 04:43 UTC] No.45382724[source]▶
In France you have to carry a state issued ID regardless of your location within the country. Driving license might be asked to be provided if there is an assumption you have one. A lasting legacy of the 40s.
4. palmfacehn ◴[26 Sep 25 04:47 UTC] No.45382759[source]▶
In practice the pseudo-crime of being "suspicious looking" also requires ID. Good luck if you want to argue your constitutional rights. Immigration status is topical for the current era. Something as benign as walking up the street to pickup takeout could involve identifying yourself to the police and waiting for them to clear you for warrants.
5. alostpuppy ◴[26 Sep 25 05:01 UTC] No.45382831[source]▶
That hasn’t been my experience, perhaps it’s state to state. I’ve been stopped without ID and had no problem. I’ve even boarded a plane through TSA without my license.
6. trenchpilgrim ◴[26 Sep 25 05:25 UTC] No.45382977[source]▶
In my state I have an app on my phone for it. I only use my physical card to get into bars.
7. arrowsmith ◴[26 Sep 25 06:27 UTC] No.45383368[source]▶
The UK used to be a high-trust society.
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8. cheema33 ◴[26 Sep 25 20:06 UTC] No.45390517[source]▶
I lived in the UK for a while as a teenager. During that time I got a driver's license. I was astonished to find out that it was paper-only. No photo. My brother could use it if needed. The laws were changed around 2000. But I think you are correct. UK used to be a high-trust society.