Why are people so set against digital IDs? (Credits: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock)

The debate over the introduction of digital IDs in the UK has reignited after Charles shared an update during the King’s Speech.

King Charles spoke about more than 35 Bills and draft Bills during the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday,and gave an update on the polarising digital IDs during which he reiterated that they would not be mandatory.

Keir Starmer proposed mandatory digital IDs back in September last year,but after intense backlash against the plans – along with a heavily signed petition – the Prime Minister U-turned on his decision to make them mandatory earlier this year.

Debate around the concept has quietened since,but King Charles this week confirmed the government is pressing on with its plan to introduce a digital ID system that ‘will modernise how citizens interact with public services’.

According to the government,the digital IDs,made available as part of the Digital Access to Services Bill,will be a ‘convenient way for people to prove who they are’.

The Bill claims the digital IDs will use the ‘latest security technology’ to give people more control over their data while reducing bureaucracy and helping the government to build the ‘intuitive,efficient,and responsive public services the UK deserves’.

While the long-term plans for digital ID involve a compulsory rollout,a plan for veteran ID cards is optional. Those who served in the military can choose to sign up and download their ID cards now.

Do other countries have digital IDs?

Countries such as Estonia,China,India,the United States,Costa Rica,Singapore,South Korea,the UAE,Canada,Japan,and Italy all have some form of digital ID available for their citizens.

The EU also announced plans last year to ensure citizens have access to a form of digital ID within the next decade.

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