The government will consult on whether children aged between 13 and 16-years-old should be included in the digital ID roll-out.

Nearly three million people have signed a petition against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for a UK-wide digital ID scheme by 2029, fearing it could lead to mass surveillance.

Under the government plans, digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents but only mandatory in order to work. It will be optional for students, pensioners or others not seeking work.

Big Brother Watch Director Silkie Carlo called the idea of enrolling children in a biometric ID system sinister and unjustified. Carlo questions the future use of digital IDs, which could extend to tax, benefits, banking, and education, resembling a national database previously rejected by Britain.