UK government says digital ID won't be compulsory - honest

"The British government has finally given more details about the proposed digital ID project, directly responding to the 2.76 million naysayers that signed an online petition calling for it to be ditched. This came a day after controversial spy-tech biz Palantir said it has no intention of helping the government implement the initiative - announced last week by prime minister Keir Starmer but not included in his political party's manifesto at last year's general election."

"It is for this reason that Louis Mosley, UK boss at Palantir - the grandson of Sir Oswald Mosley - says his employer is not getting involved, despite being mentioned as a potential bidder. "Digital ID is not one that was tested at the last election. It wasn't in the manifesto. So we haven't had a clear resounding public support at the ballot box for its implementation. So it isn't one for us," he told The Times"

"Although not quite at the level of the six million-plus people in Britain that signed a petition asking for the Brexit decision to be reversed, 2,762,000 citizens - and counting - have demanded the "UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards [ sic]." Starmer was told earlier this week by a former comms advisor that he needs to explain the rationale for digital ID to the general public or risk it failing within six months, as political rivals fill the void. Starmer chose not to focus on the topic at the Labour Party conference."

The British government released further details about a proposed digital ID project after 2.76 million people signed an online petition asking for it to be scrapped. Palantir has said it will not assist with implementation, with its UK boss Louis Mosley citing the initiative's absence from the last election manifesto and lack of clear electoral endorsement. Palantir previously worked on the Federated Data Platform for medical records and continues to run it despite efficacy concerns. The petition size was compared to the Brexit-reversal petition, and Keir Starmer was urged to explain the policy or risk it failing.

Read at Theregister