The UK government is set to introduce digital driving licences like the United States as part of its initiative to modernise public services. The digital licences will be accessible through a new government mobile app to validate purchases of alcohol, people over the age of 18 to vote. Physical licences will continue to be accepted alongside the digital option to modernise government services.
It has been described as a Labour decision that will haul the “government into the 2020s” and showcase how leveraging technology will be impactful to simplifying lives and creating efficiencies in government. A government spokesperson told the BBC, “technology now makes it possible for digital identities to be more secure than physical ones, but we remain clear that they will not be made mandatory”.
The launch is expected later this year, incorporating robust security features akin to those in banking apps.
The app might expand to include additional services like tax payments and benefits claims, with the potential for adding other forms of identification such as national insurance numbers.
While this new technology does not equate to a broad digital ID card, it marks a significant step towards enhancing public service efficiency through technology. Virtual licences are already in use in several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway, and EU member states are required to introduce at least one form of digital ID by 2026.
