Key facts
- UK government plans may require digital IDs for full smartphone access.
- Tech firms like Apple and Google could be compelled to implement age verification.
- Critics warn the measures will lead to population-wide ID checks and loss of anonymity.
- The proposals are linked to the UK's Online Safety Act and digital identity framework.
- Concerns are raised about potential government surveillance and control over device usage.
The UK government is reportedly accelerating plans to mandate digital identification for full access to smartphones, a move critics are likening to a 'digital ID lockdown.' Leaked proposals suggest that tech giants like Apple and Google would be compelled to implement stringent age verification systems, effectively requiring users to present a digital ID to set up and operate their devices. This initiative is framed as a measure to protect children online, aligning with the UK's Online Safety Act, but privacy advocates argue it will result in population-wide ID checks for all adults.
Google plans to introduce digital IDs to Android devices in the UK through Google Wallet, requiring users to submit a video selfie and scan a government-issued ID. This feature, already rolling out in some EU countries, is intended to bolster age checks for sensitive online content. Apple has already begun implementing similar age confirmation restrictions on iOS devices in the UK, which can lock users into a limited 'child mode.'