UK's £1.8B Digital ID Scheme to Have Limited Rollout Before Next Election
Digital ID app to only cover vehicle tax payments and right-to-work checks initially, says minister overseeing the £1.8 billion project.
The UK government's ambitious £1.8 billion digital ID scheme is set to have a limited rollout before the next election, with the app only being available for a handful of uses initially, according to the minister in charge of the project.
Darren Jones, the Prime Minister's Chief Secretary, told reporters on Tuesday that he eventually wants the app to be used for a wide range of services, from claiming benefits to proving the right to vote. However, he acknowledged that most of these expanded capabilities will not be implemented until the next parliamentary term.
For now, the digital ID app will only be usable for vehicle tax payments and right-to-work checks, the minister said. This more limited initial launch is a far cry from the government's initial vision of the app becoming a central identity platform for a wide range of government and private sector services.
The digital ID scheme has been touted as a way to modernize and streamline identity verification in the UK, but its slow rollout has raised concerns among both privacy advocates and those hoping for more immediate benefits. Jones sought to reassure the public, stating that the government is taking a
Source: The Guardian
