UK Announced Mandatory Digital IDs For Workers By 2029 - 1

Image by Number 10, from Flickr

UK Announced Mandatory Digital IDs For Workers By 2029

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The UK government has announced a new plan to introduce mandatory digital identification from all foreign workers who seek employment in the UK, starting from 2029.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • IDs will be free and stored on mobile phones.
  • The government says the system boosts security and cuts fraud.
  • Civil liberties groups warn of mass surveillance risks.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a governmental press release that the scheme would “make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure” while also offering “countless benefits” such as faster access to services like driving licences, tax records and childcare.

The free IDs will be stored on mobile phones, and will work similarly to contactless payments. They will include a person’s name, date of birth, nationality, residency status, and a photo.

The government’s press release states the system will feature advanced encryption and allow credentials to be revoked if a phone is lost or stolen. The government also claims that this policy will decrease document counterfeiting and fraud, while streamlining bureaucracy.

Supporters highlight international examples. Estonia, Denmark, Australia and India have seen efficiency gains, and reduced fraud through digital ID systems. Proponents in the UK also believe it could simplify everyday processes.

However, critics have raised major concerns. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the plan would “do nothing to stop the boats” while increasing risks for “law-abiding citizens,” as reported by the BBC . The situation became “laughable” according to Reform UK because cash-based employment enables illegal work to exist, as reported by Reuters .

Civil liberties groups, including Liberty and Big Brother Watch, warn of “mass surveillance” and a loss of freedoms, reported the BBC. Some citizens worry it will force people to own smartphones or become “a hacker’s dream” by concentrating sensitive data in one place, as noted by The Guardian .

Some in the tech sector have also questioned feasibility. A professional software developer said: “I put the odds that the UK government will be able to pull off this enormous centralised IT scheme without scandal at about 0%. I have no confidence in the government’s ability to resist the honeyed words of American tech giants,” reported The Guardian.

They added that only a few major firms could handle such a database at speed, raising concerns for “digital sovereignty and data protection.”

The government says a consultation later this year will consider inclusion for people without smartphones, with legislation expected early next year.

Trump Signs Order To Transfer TikTok’s U.S. Operations to American Investors - 2

Image by Zulfugar Karimov, from Unsplash

Trump Signs Order To Transfer TikTok’s U.S. Operations to American Investors

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Trump signed an executive order to transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations to Oracle and other investors, raising concerns over valuation, foreign ties, and fairness.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • ByteDance will keep less than a 20% stake under the deal.
  • The U.S. valuation of TikTok is set at about $14 billion.
  • Oracle, Dell, and Murdoch are among investors expected to take stakes.

After more than a year of negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to move TikTok’s U.S. operations into the hands of American investors, with Oracle and other major figures playing key roles.

“I had a very good talk with president Xi. We talked about TikTok. He gave us the go-ahead,” Trump said at a press conference, although Beijing has not confirmed this approval, as reported by WIRED .

Vice President JD Vance said the deal values TikTok’s U.S. business at around $14 billion, far below earlier estimates of up to $100 billion. “What this deal ensures is that the American entity and the American investors will actually control the algorithm,” Vance said, stressing data protection, as reported by WIRED.

Under the agreement, ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based owner, will hold less than a 20% stake, with U.S. firms holding the majority. Oracle, Michael Dell, Rupert Murdoch, and others are among those expected to take part, as reported by Bloomberg .

Foreign investment, however, remains controversial. MGX, a UAE-backed fund with ties to Trump’s family crypto venture, will reportedly own 15% of the new TikTok entity, as reported by The Washington Post .

Critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, argue the deal enriches Trump’s allies. “Trump wants to hand over even more control of what you watch to his billionaire buddies, and a foreign government is helping him do it,” she said, as reported by The Post. Sen. Ron Wyden added the app would fall “in the hands of Trump cronies.”

Despite promises of fairness, Trump himself joked, “If I could, I’d make the algorithm 100% MAGA related. But it’s not going to work out that way unfortunately. Everyone’s going to be treated fairly,” reports WIRED.

For now, TikTok remains online in the U.S., but major questions remain over valuation, foreign involvement, and how the algorithm will be controlled.