In response to the Government’s plan to introduce digital ID cards, Javier Ruiz Diaz, Amnesty International UK’s Technology and Human Rights Lead, said:

“The case for ID cards has not been made. It is not clear how these will solve any issues around migration beyond generalities that the lack of ID cards makes the UK more attractive compared to France and similar countries.

“Introducing digital ID cards to control migration creates new risks of discrimination, and will likely increase existing issues identified by Amnesty UK, including racialised policing.

“Forcing everyone in the UK to carry a digital ID will cause new problems. Many older people will not have a smart phone or be able to register properly. Some people may have problems accessing services, and on top of this, a national ID will create a huge risk for identity theft and a honeypot for hackers and online criminals.

“A digital ID is not just a card - there are multiple human rights concerns about the concentration and linking of information, databases and infrastructure behind them.

"The lack of regulation and adequate legal frameworks to protect rights under such a system is a serious cause for concern.”