Home Affairs committee announce new inquiry: Harnessing the potential of new forms of digital ID

The Home Affairs Committee has launched a new inquiry to explore the potential benefits and risks of the use of government-issued digital ID. 

Digital ID could take many forms. It can include government-issued digital documents, such as passports, driving licenses or national insurance numbers. Digital ID could also include biometrics such as fingerprints or facial recognition data. 

The Government has announced plans for a digital ‘Gov.uk wallet' that would allow people to access digital versions of government documents, including a new digital driver's licence, which will be possible to use for age verification in shops and pubs once introduced. eVisas have also recently been introduced to allow individuals to prove their immigration status digitally. The Government has not announced plans for a more comprehensive national digital ID programme, but several organisations have proposed the introduction of a single national digital ID.  

Proponents of digital ID have argued that its implementation could make it easier to access public services, including the NHS, benefits and tax systems. It could also be used to reduce the risk of fraud through identity theft and support immigration enforcement. 

There are however concerns about how Government would collect and use personal data, as well its ability to develop and operate a secure and reliable digital ID scheme at a reasonable cost.  

This inquiry will consider how useful digital ID could be for the Home Office in meeting its objectives, as well as the potential costs and associated risks.   

Dame Karen Bradley said:

“Introducing digital ID could help the Home Office achieve its ambitions to reduce crime and improve control over the immigration system. But there are also fears that ID schemes could infringe on people's privacy or be costly to implement effectively.

“The debate around digital ID is growing and we want to find the best evidence for how digital ID could be used by the Home Office to implement its priorities. We will be exploring the benefits and risks of digital ID systems as well as the practical challenges to their introduction.”

Terms of reference 

The deadline for written submissions to the inquiry is Thursday 21 August. Written submissions are invited on the following questions:   

1. How effectively is data relating to individuals currently being used and shared by the Home Office and its agencies? 

2. What potential benefits could the use of new forms of government-issued digital identification have for the Government's ambitions to reduce crime and to manage migration? 

1. In particular, how could new forms of digital identification be used to: 

1. Prevent and investigate crime, particularly fraud 
2. Manage border entries and exits 
3. Support immigration enforcement 
4. Support labour market enforcement 
5. Administer the asylum system 

1. Would government-issued digital identification need to be mandatory to realise these benefits? 

3. What different categories of information about individuals could most usefully be included in government-issued digital identification? 

1. What implications would the inclusion of different categories of information have for the efficacy of digital identification for law enforcement and/or immigration enforcement purposes? 

4. What potential risks does the adoption of new forms of digital identification have for individuals, including risks to privacy and security of personal data? 

5. What capabilities would the Home Office and its agencies need to develop to effectively introduce and take advantage of new forms of digital identification? 

6. How could the adoption of new forms of digital identification improve efficiency and interactions between the Home Office, law enforcement agencies, and other Government departments? 

7. How can the Government learn from the use of new forms of digital identification work internationally?