The UK government has stepped back from plans to introduce digital identity cards, signalling a change in direction after concerns were raised about privacy, civil liberties and value for money.
Under the revised approach, ministers are no longer pursuing a universal or mandatory digital ID card. Instead, digital identity checks would be used on a voluntary basis to access certain online services, alongside existing forms of identification.
The rethink follows criticism from MPs and civil liberties groups, who warned that a centralised digital ID system could undermine public trust, expand state access to personal data and expose citizens to greater cybersecurity risks. Questions were also raised about the overall cost of developing and maintaining a national digital identity scheme.
The Home Office has indicated that future digital identity policy will focus on limited, opt-in verification tools, with stronger safeguards and parliamentary oversight. Physical documents and non-digital alternatives are expected to remain in place.
The shift reflects wider caution shaped by previous UK ID card schemes and ongoing debates over how government technology can modernise public services without eroding privacy or consent.
