What happens if your phone breaks? What happens when Google arbitrarily bans your account?

Why digital ID? Can't they just make a physical ID like every country?

Why no physical backup?

I like the way US states that are (slowly) rolling out digital IDs.

First, the physical id is not being replaced.

Second, the digital ids only work in small subsets Until it’s rolled out to more areas.

For example, Californias only allows usage for proving you are over 21 (the app shows a Boolean flag to the person checking your id so it’s actually MORE private) or at select airports for domestic flights.

I am of the opinion that we CAN have a digital ID with some simple privacy items in place and ALWAY allowing a physical backup or opt out.

All of this “think of the children” digital surveillance could be partially mitigated by allowing OIDC like (stripping out unneeded information) that allows anyone to integrate an age check, Id verification, etc without much information being sent to the other apps.

Of course, this doesn’t solve the government knowing your business, but if physical backups were mandated it would help.

I think these age gates are short sighted and don’t do a lot to solve the issues, as it pushed people “underground”, just like prohibition in the states, and causes more issues.

Edit: just occurred to me, we could use a physical hardware key (like a passkey) to prove your age cryptographically without involving government apis.

You plug the fob into your phone, computer, etc. push the button and you are good…

Can any Brits explain to an American why your country hates privacy? It sounds dystopian over there in the UK.

ID was mandatory before for employment too. This is more a one ID to rule them all kind of thing.

Every time I start to forgive labour enough to vote for them next time to keep reform out they find a new reason to make me stay home.

What a fucking fail party.

Edit: I'm fine with mandatory ID for citizens, but with the UKs history of building digital services rolling this out to be digital first will almost certainly be a total disaster

So.... The British Government are choosing to make Alex Jones right. Not a good idea.