Historic record: More than 2.8 million Britons signed petition against digital IDs
An online petition calling on the British authorities to abandon the introduction of the digital identity system has far exceeded the impressive threshold of 2.5 million signatures, consolidating itself as one of the most supported citizen campaigns in the history of the British Parliament.
The recently launched petition has attracted massive public attention, highlighting concerns about mass surveillance and digital control. The initiator, Maxim Sutcliff, warns that the introduction of a digital ID violates the fundamental rights of citizens and represents a dangerous step towards constant monitoring of the population.
The 2.5 million signature threshold is not just symbolic: petitions that reach 100,000 signatures are eligible for debate in parliament. This means that the British citizens’ demand to cancel the government’s plans will officially reach the parliament’s agenda, with a response expected from the authorities in the coming weeks.
The petition can be viewed and signed here (by British citizens and UK residents): Do not introduce Digital ID cards
Digital ID rollout in Scotland heightens public fears
Meanwhile, in Scotland, the SNP government has begun implementing a new “digital identity” system, recently renamed ScotAccount, which centralizes data about citizens – from photos to personal information – for access to public services, from health records and taxes, to licenses and criminal records checks.
Digital rights campaigners warn that such a system could expose users to hacking and identity theft, as well as the potential misuse of data by various government agencies. Madeleine Stone, from Big Brother Watch, said: “These plans could allow the Scottish government to build massive databases and share the personal information of millions of citizens between departments.”
Critics also point out the risk that a system initially conceived as voluntary could, in practice, become implicitly mandatory, which would increase the relevance of the anti-digital ID petition throughout UK.
yogaesoteric
October 12, 2025
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