Thousands march against controversial UK digital ID cards

In the streets of central London this weekend, anger prevails over digital ID cards to be introduced by late 2029, the latest installment in the UK government's plan to curb what it calls undocumented migration.

If people are coming in illegally, whether or not they have a digital ID, they will be on the black market economy anyway, and it will actually impact people who are legal citizens, and I don't think it will have much impact in terms of reducing illegal immigration.

Protester 01

• UK digital ID cards spark debate over immigration control, security
  

  UK digital ID cards spark debate over immigration control, security

  As the UK government is set to implement digital ID cards, critics argue that the scheme might not sufficiently tackle the intricacies of immigration issues while raising alarms about the possible misuse of personal data.

If they wanted to stop the immigration, they could do it. They would. It wouldn't even be happening. They're doing it on purpose, for this.

Protester 02

The demonstrators here are part of the more than 1.6 million Britons who've signed a petition against the idea.

The biggest concern here is that the scheme creates a mass surveillance infrastructure where the government controls where they go, what they do, and how they spend their money.

And that's not all; beyond their lack of trust in government, they say there is something much bigger at play.

• UK digital ID plans raise concerns about surveillance and control
  

  UK digital ID plans raise concerns about surveillance and control

  In September, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to introduce mandatory digital IDs for all citizens by 2029, sparking widespread protests.

This system of digital ID, this agenda, is being driven by transnational corporations.

We're talking about Google, Microsoft, Palantir and the people who own those companies and the billionaire class, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk.

These are the same people that are backing and funding the anti-immigration politics in Europe.

Patrick Henningsen, 21st Century Wire

Nicknamed the BritCard, the Tony Blair era idea was reintroduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this year, claiming it will make it tougher to work in the UK illegally.

The idea has come under attack, not only from people and pundits, but also from politicians who say it's not going to work.

It’s a ruse. If you say yes to digital ID, you'll never be able to say no to any government in the future ever again.

You'll be giving away not only your freedom, but the freedom of your children, your grandchildren, and, generations of our nation yet unborn.

And you'd have to have absolute confidence (to give) any government the powers that this gives them over you, not only this government, but governments of the future.

You don't even know what they're going to be.

Andrew Bridgen, Former Conservative MP

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That could mean Reform UK, which polls suggest is the most popular party in the UK right now, thanks to its populist leader Nigel Farage’s constant drumbeat on migration.

Downing Street claims there will be no requirement for individuals to carry their ID or be asked to produce it.

But with a potentially right-wing government in power in a few years time, it's hard to avoid the question of what it would do with this handy tool for authoritarian control.

• Thousands march against UK digital ID plans
  

  Protesters reject UK digital ID rollout

  Protesters brave the cold weather of the British capital to march against the planned introduction of digital IDs for British citizens.

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