UK Abandons Mandatory Digital IDs

UK government relaxes digital ID rules, removing employment requirement.

The government of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has relaxed the rules for digital IDs, eliminating the requirement for employment.

Introduced in September 2025, the BritCard initiative aimed to combat illegal immigration and simplify the bureaucratic system. However, the project faced criticism from citizens and some members of parliament.

Opponents of digital passports warned that the situation could lead to an “Orwellian nightmare” and the centralization of confidential data with the risk of leaks.

Nearly 3 million people signed a petition against the implementation of BritCard.

Parliament clarified that digital work permits remain mandatory, but they can be provided through alternative means such as biometric passports.

After the integration of digital IDs in 2029, they will become an optional method for employment alongside other electronic documents.

British MP Rupert Lowe wrote on X that he would celebrate the removal of excessive requirements “with a large drink.”

I am off for a very large drink to celebrate the demise of mandatory Digital ID. pic.twitter.com/0GUPdLqbxn

— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) January 13, 2026

“This is a victory in the fight for individual freedom against a dreadful authoritarian government,” added parliamentarian and leader of the “Reform UK” movement, Nigel Farage.

In July 2025, the Chinese government launched digital IDs for internet use, transferring the responsibility for online identification of citizens from private companies to the state.