The Government has launched a consultation on its plans to introduce a new digital ID system.

As we discussed previously here, the Government announced last year that a new digital ID scheme – long mooted by politicians and policy advisers – will be rolled out across the UK before the end of the Parliament.

Originally, it was proposed that digital IDs would be mandatory as a means of individuals proving their right to work. However, that was abandoned at the start of the year, as the Government confirmed that alternative documents will continue to be accepted as evidence of a person’s right to work.

While the Government has confirmed that there will be no legal obligation for people to have or present a digital ID, it is nonetheless proceeding with plans for the scheme, on the stated basis that it will make “people’s everyday lives easier by modernising old-fashioned processes”. In particular, the Government argues that it will:

• Be a convenient way for people to prove who they are;
• Be secure and put people more in control of their data;
• Offer everyone eligible access to an inclusive ID, without up-front charges; and
• Help government to reduce bureaucracy and build the intuitive, efficient, and responsive public services the UK deserves

The scheme will be developed by reference to three core principles: that it should be (1) useful, (2) inclusive, and (3) trusted. The consultation expands on these in detail, seeking views, for example, on what information people would want to be included on the ID to make it as useful as possible, or how particular groups may need extra support in order to take advantage of it.

As for questions of trust, the consultation makes clear that “it is essential to the success of the national digital ID system that government upholds the highest standards of security, privacy and data protection, with effective and proportionate governance and oversight”. The data protection and privacy implications of the scheme are discussed in detail, including how the system will be designed following a ‘data protection and privacy by design’ approach, the importance of Data Protection Impact Assessments, and how data protection principles and requirements – such as data minimisation – will be observed.

As well as inviting comments from all sections of society, the Government states that it welcomes “an open dialogue with privacy focussed individuals, organisations and communities to share their views and concerns about data protection and privacy of the system”.

The consultation closes on 5 May 2026, and can be read here.