Privacy experts have criticized the UK government’s plan to introduce a digital identity wallet mobile app, likening it to carrying “Big Brother in your pocket.” The app, called GOV.UK Wallet and App, aims to simplify access to government services and documents by allowing citizens to store ID documents such as driver’s licenses and passports on their phones. Similar to the EU Digital Identity Wallet scheme, which faced privacy concerns, the UK’s initiative sparks worries about increased surveillance and data security risks.

Scheduled for launch in the summer, the GOV.UK Wallet will enable Britons to digitally scan their ID documents for easy verification purposes. Despite the convenience it offers, privacy advocates like Silkie Carlo from Big Brother Watch express concerns over the app’s collection of vast personal information and potential security vulnerabilities.

While the UK government emphasizes the use of modern smartphone security features like facial recognition, fears persist about the app becoming a target for hackers. Carlo warns that storing sensitive identifier data in one application poses significant privacy risks. The planned rollout includes various ID documents and services by 2027, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailing the innovation as a “game-changer” that empowers individuals and enhances security.

However, Carlo believes the initiative may restrict choices and control over personal data for those who rely on non-digital ID forms. She argues that the government’s approach lacks legal protection for non-digital ID usage and fails to clarify the extent of information available through the wallet, potentially disadvantaging certain individuals.