@glynmoody
Sorry, but the arguments in this article reads just like yet another typically British monologue why single-glazed sash windows and separate hot/cold water taps are superior to the “continental” modernities 😄
First, please have a look at the list of “documents approved for voting in the UK” with 21 (!) different types of documents, whereas only some variants of some are approved (Oyster 60+ card) and others are not (any Oyster):
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need
This only exists only because of the persistent refusal of consecutive UK governments to introduce a single national id document, something that had been working in EU for decades.
Then have a look at another list - “Acceptable proof of address documents” which lists 10 types of documents, usually containing highly sensitive information such as your “mortgage statements” which in the UK you have to provide to any bank, employment agency, rental agency, property agency and a dozen of other companies:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/horizon-shortfall-scheme-appeals-proving-your-identity/list-of-acceptable-proof-of-address-documents-for-countersignatories
These, of course, need to verify your identity… but can’t because there’s no single national id so they resort to this kind of improvised risk-based methods, then keeping your sensitive documents God knows where and for how long. Because, you know, “it must be a paper copy” 😄
Now back to TechDirt:
Digital ID systems expand the number of entities that may access personal information and consequently use it to track and surveil.
Speaking of “threat to privacy” here, in the context of the massive privacy violations now codified in the British law because of lack of national id is complete reversal of truth. In reality, the only reason why national id has been for decades opposed is the lobbying of private companies who outsource processing of these massive financial data troves for their profit, selling “identity verification” service to the government and then selling you your own aggregated data in the form of “credit scores” etc. Just check all the “identity verification provided by E” at government pages.
And no, you can’t opt out unless you decide to live under a bridge.
#DigitalId #UnitedKingdom #privacy