 |
The UK government has reversed its plans to mandate digital identity (digital ID) documents for workers. This notable policy reversal comes after a public petition against the plan gained almost three million signatures, as the change follows strong public backlash, political criticism, and concerns about privacy. Announced in September 2025, the initial plan was for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to introduce a digital ID card (sometimes called the BritCard). It would be stored on a smartphone and prove someone’s legal right to work in the UK. The government argued it would help stop illegal work and make public services run more smoothly. However, the mandatory requirement has now been dropped, which means workers will not be forced to get a specific government digital ID to find or keep a job. Employers will still need to verify the right to work digitally, but individuals can use standard documents like passports, visas, biometric permits, or other approved ID instead of a single, government-run digital ID. submitted by /u/Green_Candler |
### 英国政府取消强制工人数字身份识别计划
近日，英国政府宣布取消强制实施工人数字身份识别（数字ID）文件的计划，这一政策反转引起了广泛关注。这一变化的背景是，一项反对该计划的公众请愿在短短时间内获得了近三百万的签名。这一政策背后引发了公众的强烈反弹、政治的批评，以及人们对隐私问题的担忧。
最初，英国首相基尔·斯塔默于2025年9月提出的计划，意图推出一种数字身份卡（有时称为BritCard）。该卡将存储在智能手机上，旨在证明个人在英国的合法工作权利。政府曾表示，该计划有助于打击非法工作，并能使公共服务运行更加顺畅。
然而，强制要求的取消意味着工作人员不再需要获得特定的政府数字ID来寻找或保留工作。尽管雇主仍需以数字方式验证工作权利，但个人可以使用护照、签证、生物识别许可证或其他批准的身份证件，而不是依赖于单一的政府运营数字ID。
这一政策的变化无疑是对公众意见的积极回应，也展示了政府在听取民众声音方面的灵活性与适应性。随着数字身份技术的发展，如何平衡便捷性与隐私保护将继续是未来政策讨论的热点。英国政府的这一决定，或许将为今后的数字身份政策制定提供一个重要的参考案例。