Mandatory Digital ID Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Richard Foord
Main Page: Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat - Honiton and Sidmouth)Department Debates - View all Richard Foord's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(1 day, 20 hours ago)
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Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD)
I have serious concerns about digital ID, based on civil liberties, data security and practical delivery. First, on civil liberties, we should remember that although we may live in a benign social democracy today, that cannot be guaranteed in the future. When bestowing new powers on Government, MPs have a responsibility to think about how those powers could be used. Secondly, on data security, when the Government centralise vast amounts of personal data, they create a target for hackers and cyber criminals.
Thirdly, there are the practicalities. One argument that the Government have advanced for digital ID is that it will help to crack down on illegal working. However, there are already requirements on employers to check that applicants have a right to work in the UK. Why would an employer who did not carry out a right-to-work check for, say, a passport, suddenly carry out such a check for digital ID?