Most active commenters
  • motbus3(5)
  • matt-p(4)
  • reactordev(3)

←back to thread

Britain to introduce compulsory digital ID for workers

(www.reuters.com)
525 points alex77456 | 15 comments | 26 Sep 25 02:09 UTC | HN request time: 1.253s | source | bottom
Show context
matt-p ◴[26 Sep 25 14:38 UTC] No.45387015[source]▶
So I currently have;

A National Insurance Card (needed to get a job), drivers license and passport, one of latter is also needed (in practice) to get a job.

Why would a brit card help us reduce the number of people working illegally?

The only notable 'employers' of illegal workers in the UK are American tech firms Uber and deliveroo (doordash) because they allow driver substitution without verifying that the substitute is legit. That should be made illegal and then fine them into the ground for anyone who slips through. Brit card doesn't help and is a distraction.

replies(5): >>45387056 #>>45387245 #>>45389565 #>>45390184 #>>45393813 #
1. reactordev ◴[26 Sep 25 14:41 UTC] No.45387056[source]▶
It has nothing to do with cards and everything to do with data.
replies(2): >>45387102 #>>45390750 #
2. notavalleyman ◴[26 Sep 25 14:45 UTC] No.45387102[source]▶
But the person you're replying to, just explained to you, how the government already have the relevant data. So it's clearly not about data, because the government already issue his NINO and passport

Edit - I mean, just play it back in your head. The PM is probably watching small boat arrivals and reform polling numbers like a hawk. And here's his idea to fix both problems, and you're saying, actually no, the PM is just doing this to get data on where I go to work, even though they already have my PAYE details

replies(2): >>45387185 #>>45387211 #
3. Lio ◴[26 Sep 25 14:51 UTC] No.45387185[source]▶
I think it's 100% about the data.

I beleive that Labour see this new ID system as the solution to all the age verification questions now required by the Online Safety Act. e.g. access to things like Reddit, BlueSky messaging, Spotify.

With that in mind I think new data you're talking about will be enhanced tracking and monitoring on everyday online activity of UK citizens.

replies(2): >>45387298 #>>45387348 #
4. motbus3 ◴[26 Sep 25 14:53 UTC] No.45387211[source]▶
I guess the guy above is right. It is about the data and the right to use your face and track you everywhere. This can be easily paired with that UK bonkers camera ai thing. They might not need to know who is illegal, but if the camera does not know you, you might need to explain yourself and show an id.

At the same time, I wonder how will they deal with people wearing burkas, masks, balaclavas etc

replies(1): >>45387263 #
5. matt-p ◴[26 Sep 25 14:57 UTC] No.45387263{3}[source]▶
Government already have my photo for passport and driver's license, I struggle to believe that there's people here working who don't have at least a provisional license or passport of any kind.
replies(1): >>45387328 #
6. motbus3 ◴[26 Sep 25 14:59 UTC] No.45387298{3}[source]▶
I don't think it is only online. It is really a distopean future in US and UK right now.

I honestly understand the problem with immigration, but at the same time, I think this way of approaching the problem is just to create "the enemy" from 1984.

It seems that immigrants right now move something between 4B-10B a month in UK which is not a small number. Considering the costs elsewhere altogether, it seems quite small win for the risk.

replies(1): >>45387657 #
7. motbus3 ◴[26 Sep 25 15:02 UTC] No.45387328{4}[source]▶
Maybe they plan to ask Uber and deliveroo to authenticate the workers via facial recognition?
replies(1): >>45387470 #
8. matt-p ◴[26 Sep 25 15:04 UTC] No.45387348{3}[source]▶
I tend to agree, that or a big distraction/white elephant/dead cat.
9. matt-p ◴[26 Sep 25 15:15 UTC] No.45387470{5}[source]▶
In order to drive a motorcycle or car you need a driving license which has photo ID?

Ok maybe you deliver by push bike.. but if you arrived here legally you will have a passport? If you didn't you ergo don't have the right to work here?

replies(1): >>45387636 #
10. reactordev ◴[26 Sep 25 15:29 UTC] No.45387636{6}[source]▶
Outsourced to companies that don’t share data, which is why the government is requiring you to submit more data. How hard is this? Eventually they’ll have your DNA, Fingerprints, photos, family trees, employment history, money, spending habits, vices, travel locations, conversations, and your comings and goings via license plate readers.

Welcome to your future.

replies(1): >>45395635 #
11. astonex ◴[26 Sep 25 15:30 UTC] No.45387657{4}[source]▶
>It is really a distopean future in US and UK right now.

This ignores the fact that most of Europe and Asia already have national IDs

replies(2): >>45387785 #>>45393846 #
12. reactordev ◴[26 Sep 25 15:42 UTC] No.45387785{5}[source]▶
We all have national ID’s. It’s about having digital ID’s in a system they control.
13. paxys ◴[26 Sep 25 20:34 UTC] No.45390750[source]▶
What new data does another ID card give the government?
14. motbus3 ◴[27 Sep 25 07:33 UTC] No.45393846{5}[source]▶
The digital id is not the reason for that comment, or not solely. I mean having AI cameras, legalised racial profiling, attack on vessels in international waters without proof (likely killing innocent civilians too when it could be intercepted easily on the coast), we have politics talking about cultural incompatibility of their own people because different religion, we have a post truth media, etc
15. motbus3 ◴[27 Sep 25 13:41 UTC] No.45395635{7}[source]▶
It is happening already. Some insurance companies in my country wants to demand DNA testing and to withold that information for indeterminate time and to be able to sell that info.

Thankfully, although not even close to EU data protection there is some and this was deemed irregular for now.

Attention for the word "irregular". They will take maybe few more years to turn it onto regular. It is not illegal which is bonkers.