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Britain to introduce compulsory digital ID for workers

(www.reuters.com)
525 points alex77456 | 1 comments | 26 Sep 25 02:09 UTC | HN request time: 0.426s | source
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voidUpdate ◴[26 Sep 25 14:26 UTC] No.45386876[source]▶
What's the benefit of this over a passport? A passport is a physical thing, so you don't need to have a phone to be able to use it, proves who you are with the same details as this digital ID, and will probably require a similar amount of paperwork to get hold of
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lightwords ◴[26 Sep 25 14:38 UTC] No.45387014[source]▶
You usually don't want to carry a passport with you at all times. In some European countries (e.g., the Nordics), you have your ID, driver’s license, firearm license, etc., all in a government app that can be verified with an app used by officials. You can also sign and authenticate all paperwork with the same system
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matt-p ◴[26 Sep 25 14:39 UTC] No.45387025[source]▶
Good for them, but I don't see why we need this, or indeed why that's a good thing?
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netdevphoenix ◴[26 Sep 25 14:45 UTC] No.45387094[source]▶
Easy and cheap regular checks on the spot presential or/and online, as frequently as you want vs rare scheduled difficult and expensive checks.

Possibilities get realised such as regular remote checks (ie selfie to prove you are the id owner holder, address proof, etc, flagging odd id holder behaviour or employer, etc). Currently, you cannot do this, no visibility into who works where and where that person even resembles the person meant to be working for [insert gig company].

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1. michaelt ◴[26 Sep 25 14:56 UTC] No.45387250[source]▶
To the extent this is technically possible, if the gig economy companies wanted to do this, they could do it already.

When the driver signs up, check their passport or driving license in the normal manner, and take a matching portrait you keep on file. Any time you want to, compare a selfie to the portrait on file.

Reason they don't do this is it's profitable to hire people who can't legally work in the UK, if they can get away with it - and the government lets them get away with it.