Since the 1950s every government attempt to introduce mandatory ID cards has been rejected by the British public. But the UK’s reputation as a country that has historically refused to become a checkpoint society is under threat thanks to new digital ID proposals, this time in the framework of tackling illegal immigration.

The Prime Minister is reportedly considering these proposals, which come from Labour Together and the Tony Blair Institute. But far from being a silver-bullet solution to illegal immigration or other societal issues, a mandatory digital ID scheme would, if implemented, fundamentally change our relationship with the state and represent an irreversible erosion of our civil liberties.

If the history of ID cards teaches us anything, it’s that mandatory ID schemes inevitably act as catalysts in ushering in a more intrusive era of surveillance. The unique risks of digital ID are the focus of a new Big Brother Watch report, which scrutinises the rationale behind the current digital ID proposals and sets out a critique from a privacy perspective. With digital ID now a distinct possibility, what risks are the most concerning? How can Labour oppose digital ID amid calls for a more tech-friendly and efficient state? What is the best way for us to secure our freedoms in an increasingly digital age? Would mandatory digital ID deter illegal immigration? This timely panel will answer these and other pressing questions related to the latest calls for a national ID scheme.

Speakers:

Rebecca Vincent (moderator), Interim Director, Big Brother Watch

Jasleen Chaggar (lead report author), Legal and Policy Officer, Big Brother Watch

Dr Shabna Begum, CEO, The Runnymede Trust

Dawn Butler, Labour Party Member of Parliament for Brent East

As an independent, non-partisan civil liberties group, we’re committed to building cross-party support. If you are unable to attend our event in Bournemouth, we will be organising similar panel discussions during the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Party conferences in Bournemouth and Manchester. Stay tuned for updates.

About Big Brother Watch:

Big Brother Watch is a UK civil liberties campaign group fighting for a free future. We’re determined to reclaim our privacy and defend freedoms at this time of enormous technological change.

We’re a fiercely independent, diverse, non-partisan and non-profit group of campaigners and researchers, who work to roll back the surveillance state and protect rights in parliament, the media, and the courts if we have to. We publish unique investigations and pursue powerful public campaigns to pursue real change. We work relentlessly to inform and empower the public to collectively reclaim privacy, defend our civil liberties, and protect freedoms for the future.

Labour’s Checkpoint Britain: How Digital ID threatens our rights