The speech from King Charles III detailed proposals for a Digital Access to Services Bill aimed at creating a legal framework for digital identity usage.
The King's Speech highlighted a renewed initiative [1] by the UK government to advance the implementation of a digital ID scheme. This scheme is designed to establish a national ID that enhances the accessibility and security of public services, potentially extending to private sector services like gym memberships and parcel collections. The initiative is now supported by forthcoming legislation, specifically the Digital Access to Services Bill, which will provide the legal framework necessary for the government to create, issue, and utilize a digital ID. “My ministers will also proceed with the introduction of digital ID that will modernise how citizens interact with public services,” said King Charles.
The digital ID scheme [2] was initially introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in September 2025. It was originally presented as a mandatory requirement for right to work checks. “I know working people are worried about the level of illegal migration into this country. A secure border and controlled migration are reasonable demands, and this government is listening and delivering,” said Keir Starmer. “Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly - rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.”
However, in January 2026, the UK government reversed [3] this decision and removed the compulsory component in response to significant opposition from privacy advocates. Employers are set to be mandated to perform right to work checks digitally by 2029, but employees will not be required to obtain a government digital ID. Instead, they will have the option to use physical documents, a private sector ID, or the government’s digital ID.
In a [4] publication released by the UK government, it stated on page 79, “The government is renewing Britain with accessible public services that work for citizens and come together on the Gov.uk app. The app will become the front door to accessing public services as with online banking or shopping apps with the digital ID system at its foundation.” On page 80 the publication said the Digital Access to Services Bill would, “Establish the legal framework for the government to create, issue and use Digital ID. Set out the information the Digital ID credential will contain, and provide for how it can be issued, maintained, stored, and verified, as well as eligibility requirements.”
On March 10, 2026 the UK government [5] initiated an 8 week consultation regarding its digital ID scheme, seeking public input on the design and implementation of the digital identity system. The consultation aimed to gather opinions on the functionality of the digital ID, ensuring it remains accessible for those who may be digitally excluded. Ministers reportedly visited each region of the UK during the consultation to gather feedback on the initiative. Darren Jones, who is [6] the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister said, “People too often dread their interactions with public services. Endless telephone calls, complicated printed forms and having to tell your story multiple times to different parts of government. I want to change that and make public services work for you. The new digital ID will make that possible, allowing you to log on and prove who you are to access public services more quickly, easily and securely.”
However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation or EFF [7] sent a submission to the UK consultation on digital ID claiming the scheme is an infringements on privacy rights, a serious security risks and would lead to deepening of entrenched power imbalances between the state and the public. The Electronic Frontier Foundation [8] said in its submission, “Digital ID regimes strip privacy from everyone and further marginalise those seeking asylum. They are pursued as a technological solution to offline problems but instead allow the state to determine what you can access, not just verify who you are, by functioning as a key to opening or closing doors to essential services and experiences.”
On storing, managing and using the digital ID the Electronic Frontier Foundation also said, “Digital ID systems expand the number of entities that may access personal information and consequently use it to track and surveil people across the country. Accordingly, to advance individuals’ privacy, there should be a simple, quick way to delete information linked to a digital ID. If information about places that the digital ID has been used are being stored in a central database, such as at the digital ID provider, people must be able to quickly and easily see all the linked information and remove linked services.”