Digital IDs Turn Mandatory? The New Push and What It Means for Privacy

In recent months, several governments have moved aggressively toward making digital identity (digital ID / eID) a mandatory credential for things like employment, accessing services, and verifying identity. One of the most striking examples: the UK government announced that by the end of Parliament, digital ID will be required for Right-to-Work checks. (gov.uk)

As these shifts gain momentum, it’s time to break down what’s at stake — the benefits, the risks, and how you can protect your rights as this becomes the new norm.

What’s happening right now

• UK’s digital ID requirement

  The UK’s new plan would make digital ID a mandatory method for verifying legal work eligibility. While people won’t have to carry a card, employers must check the digital ID. (gov.uk)

• US federal push

  Even though only introduced in the U.S., the “Improving Digital Identity Act of 2023” (S. 884) directs Congress to coordinate digital identity efforts across federal agencies. (congress.gov)

  Meanwhile, a White House executive order encourages adoption of mobile driver’s licenses and digital ID in federal programs — with privacy, minimalism, and interoperability as stated principles. (idtechwire.com)

  • State-level action

    In Utah, SB 260 stipulates that when a digital ID is used, the individual must control the identity data, and transactions must remain free from surveillance or tracking. (govtech.com)

    In North Carolina, DMV legislation now requires development of a digital license system conforming to ISO/IEC standards. (biometricupdate.com)

These developments show a trend: Governments aren’t just offering digital IDs — they are pushing them toward becoming de facto required credentials in many spheres.

The Future of Identity: When Digital IDs Become the New Badge of Access. As convenience meets control, how much privacy are we willing to exchange for compliance?

Why governments are pushing this

Pros often cited:

1. Efficiency & convenience — No more physical documents, repeated identity checks, or paper-heavy bureaucracy.

2. Fraud reduction — Sophisticated cryptography and biometrics can make identity theft harder.

3. Better access to services — Digital IDs allow fast onboarding for health, tax, welfare, and other public services.

4. Interoperability — A unified identity system avoids fragmentation across agencies.

From an academic standpoint, digital identity is increasingly viewed as foundational to the knowledge economy. Robles-Carrillo’s work argues that digital identity isn’t just a copy of physical identity — it’s a new, multifaceted construct with legal, social, and technical implications. (academic.oup.com)

Real risks and serious concerns

1. Increased state power & surveillance

As detailed in an Immigrant Defense Project whitepaper, digital IDs deepen state control over who can access resources. They risk leveling up mass surveillance through centralized databases and tracking of people’s movements and transactions. (immigrantdefenseproject.org)

2. Exclusion and inequity

Digital-only systems can inadvertently exclude people without smartphones, stable internet, or the technological literacy to use these systems. (opengovpartnership.org)

3. Privacy & data breach exposure

A mismanaged digital ID system can expose biometric data, personal identifiers, and usage logs. Once compromised, a digital identity is harder to revoke than a physical card. The ACLU has warned that hasty rollout can lead to privacy violations. (aclu.org)

4. Legal & governance ambiguity

The legal frameworks around digital identity are still evolving. In many jurisdictions, there’s little clarity on who owns identity data, how long it’s stored, and how consent is handled. Michalkiewicz-Kadziela explores how law must adapt to define the boundaries of identity creation and control. (policyreview.info)

5. Dependency on private providers

Public-private partnerships may give private companies control over critical identity infrastructure. That raises conflict-of-interest and accountability risks.

How we can respond — practical steps

• Demand transparency & oversight

  Insist on auditability, open standards, and civilian oversight of digital ID systems.

• Adopt Privacy by Design

  Limit what data gets stored, require data minimization, and enable users to control disclosure of only what’s necessary (yes/no tokens vs full identity).

• Support self-sovereign identity (SSI)

  Decentralized identity models let individuals own and control their identity data. Research in this direction shows SSI helps reduce reliance on central databases. (arxiv.org)

• Advocate equity provisions

  Ensure fallback systems (physical IDs), accessibility tools, and inclusion for underserved populations.

• Stay legally informed

  Monitor upcoming regulations in your jurisdiction. Know your rights under privacy laws like GDPR, CCPA, or local equivalents.

🕰️ When might this hit the U.S.?

In the U.K., policy decisions and trials moved quickly from pilot to proposal in under two years. Digital ID mandates advanced rapidly after political will aligned with regulatory infrastructure.

By comparison, in the U.S., digital ID policy is still fragmented. But with bills like the Improving Digital Identity Act (S. 884) gaining bipartisan support, and increasing adoption of mobile driver’s licenses, mandatory digital ID is not far-fetched.

My estimate: Within 5-7 years, depending on judicial and public pushback. But in sectors like healthcare, financial services, or government benefit access, we could see early mandates as soon as 2–3 years.

🧠 Ask yourself:

• How comfortable are you handing over biometric or identity data to controllers you don’t fully trust?

• When would you say “that’s too early” for a mandatory digital ID mandate — and where would you draw the line?

  Watch this to get a bases for Privacy and Digital IDs