The government has introduced plans to let UK citizens carry official documents in their phone wallets. It says the move would modernise the often-antiquated world of ID documentation and provide a way for Brits to access things like their Driving Licence or Passport digitally – on a device they’re likely to always be carrying. Privacy experts, on the other hand, have heavily criticised the move for its potential to allow additional surveillance, calling it akin to “putting Big Brother in your pocket”.
The GOV.UK wallet is set to launch this summer. Users would simply need to scan their existing ID documents to add them to a folder, where they can then be kept and managed all in one place.
It comes on the back of a similar scheme approved for use in Europe; the EU Digital Identity Wallet which stores virtual copies of official ID on a device to be used on and offline.
The EU’s proposals also came in for heavy criticism, with analysts arguing that data security risks and increased surveillance were a hefty price to pay for a little extra convenience.
Among those sounding the alarm for the UK government’s new scheme is Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch. She argued that combining digital wallets containing official documents with the facial recognition software installed on most smartphones creates a “honeypot for hackers”.
Despite these concerns, the government is pressing ahead with the roll out and says the digital tool could actually make things more secure – with biometric checks and the like providing additional protections.
The wallet will be made available on both iOS and Android devices. The Veteran Card will be the first to be added, with driving licences expected to follow before the year is out. All other official documents are expected to be supported by the end of 2027.
