The UK Government has confirmed its plans to introduce digital driving licenses through a newly developed app set to launch this summer. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernise access to government services by enabling citizens to securely store various official documents in a digital "wallet."
Initially, users will be able to add a veteran card to this digital wallet, with a pilot programme for digital driving licenses expected to follow later in 2025. The digital wallet is designed to operate akin to popular mobile payment systems like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, utilising existing smartphone security features such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to ensure user safety and privacy.
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle outlined that by the end of 2027, the Government aims to include a wide array of documents within the wallet, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and other government-issued credentials.
The functionality of the digital license is set to extend beyond mere identity verification. It could potentially serve as an accepted form of ID for various activities such as voting, purchasing alcohol, and boarding domestic flights. Features may also include the ability for users to obscure their addresses in certain situations, increasing privacy during transactions in shops or bars.
Mr Kyle stated, “Gov.UK Wallet will mean that every letter or identity document you receive from the government could be issued to you virtually. For people who choose to use Gov.UK Wallet, they will find it easier to prove they’re entitled to benefits or check their age when buying alcohol or DIY equipment, with more security and trust than ever before. Crucially, it also opens huge opportunities to make interacting with public services much easier by putting people in control of their own data."
Importantly, the digital wallet and driving licenses will remain optional, and traditional physical documents will continue to be valid. This approach notably distances the current Government from past proposals for compulsory national ID cards, once advocated by former prime minister Tony Blair and William Hague.
The Government spokesperson highlighted a commitment to leveraging technology to enhance public services, asserting, “This Government is committed to using technology to make people’s lives easier and transform public services.” This sentiment is echoed across Europe, as the French Government has introduced legislation allowing electronic copies of driving licenses and identity cards via official mobile apps, with EU member states required to implement at least one form of digital ID by 2026.
In a broader context related to technology adoption, Labour leader Keir Starmer has recently emphasised the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative force for growth and improved living standards in the UK. He unveiled plans aimed at capitalising on AI opportunities, characterising it as a “unique chance” for economic advancement.
Starmer's plans follow the formation of an AI opportunities action plan by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, which has received approval from government ministers. Among the strategic recommendations is a commitment from the Government to outline plans within the next six months to enhance the UK’s AI infrastructure. Furthermore, ambitious targets have been set to increase the UK’s publicly owned AI capacity twentyfold by 2030, alongside a proposal to establish a state-of-the-art supercomputing facility dedicated to research.
As developments unfold, citizens will have the opportunity to engage with these innovations in government services and technology, with varying impacts depending on their choice to adopt digital identities.
Source: Noah Wire Services