Brits picked to help shape digital IDs reveal what they really think - with some even changing their minds

Around 120 people from across the UK gathered in Birmingham yesterday to chat about one of the country’s most talked-about topics: digital IDs. The group forms the official People’s Panel, brought together by the Cabinet Office to discuss the proposed digital ID system - a policy that’s been stirring controversy and kept people talking ever since it was first announced in September 2025.

Across seven workshops, panel members have been armed with information and expert insights to help them unpack the big questions around digital IDs and what they could mean for everyday life.

And in true British fashion, there’s been no shortage of lively debate.

Views have ranged from enthusiastic support to healthy scepticism, with some participants even unexpectedly finding themselves changing their minds along the way.

The panel’s recommendations and opinions will help shape what happens next for digital IDs in the UK.

Cabinet Office.

Londoner Michael B. joined the panel “originally very against” digital IDs, but after hearing other people’s opinions and hearing information, his stance has slightly softened.

However, he’s not completely sold just yet as he still has two major concerns he’d like to see be addressed by the government.

He told LADBible at the event: “There are a number of questions I would like to ask. One being, when this Digital ID system is up and running, how will it work with the European system and how many third party companies will manage this data?

“If there are more than one or two companies, that increases the risk of hacking."

He also believes the government has heavily focused on the benefits of digital IDs, while paying less attention to the drawbacks which have occurred in countries with similar systems in place.

He said: “For example in Estonia where their system crashed in 2017 and they had to reissue hundreds of thousands of cards. There was also an alleged case of a serving police officer who accessed the system and did a background check on his fiancee - which is obviously an abuse of it."

Donna D from Fareham, says she probably won’t make use of the digital IDs, which are going to be voluntary and not compulsory, due to her living with existing forms of ID for many years.

“I’m of that age where everything has been in place for years, I’ve lived in the same place for years so it wouldn’t be useful for me," she said.

Digital IDs may not be for Donna, but she can appreciate why younger generations, such as her grandchildren, might embrace the new system.

She said: “It is a good idea if it helps them get passports, get on the housing market etc... but for me, there is no point in doing paperwork to get it when I’ve been settled for so long, why change it?”

Sally from Surrey, who feels “quite honoured” to be part of the People’s Panel also believes the digital IDs will be a good thing for young people.

She said: “I’ve got grandchildren at uni who have to take their passports out with them as ID to prove their age so I do think the digital ID will be good in that sense."

When asked if she is worried about possible data breaches if her grandchildren use the new system, she said: “It’s always a possibility but we have to trust the government and hopefully they would tell us if there was a breach."

Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

For Suzzy, an NHS worker from Oxford, being part of the panel is both a privilege and a responsibility. She is aware that she is helping to give a voice to those who are not in the room.

She told LADBible: “I think digital IDs are very good and we know it’s going to happen eventually - if it doesn’t happen now then it will in the future.

“As citizens, our responsibility is to make sure that it’s the most effective, efficient system because it will probably be replacing other things in the future. So if we don’t get it right, we’ll be playing catch up."

Emily from Manchester is all for digital IDs, arguing they simply reflect the way people already live. They told LADbible: "Half of our lives are already on digital - whether that’s the HMRC app, banking app or others. We’ve all been there before when you’re trying to find a utility bill from three months ago and are having to get all the paperwork together. So, having a one-stop shop will be

beneficial. If you think about it, with contactless, we all beep our cards without even giving it a second thought in terms of security."

But Mike Pickles, 63, from Suffolk, believes he “doesn’t particularly have a compelling reason” to have a digital ID, due to his age.

He told LADBible that he isn’t overly concerned about the risk of data breaches: “The data already exists and most of it is already stored on our phones. If someone stole my phone and managed to break into it, they would only have access to my information. They wouldn't automatically gain access to everyone else's data."

“To get hold of millions of people's details, someone would have to steal millions of phones and be able to break into each one individually. From that perspective, I'm not particularly concerned about the security risks."

Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Whether you love or hate the idea of digital IDs, it has become one of the government’s most talked about policies.

LADbible spoke to Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, who said: “The panel is a brilliant way of bringing the public with you when designing government policy. Given that there is a lot of public interest in it [digital IDs], I thought it was the right thing to do this deliberative democracy process, bringing people together to be able to look under the bonnet, ask lots of questions and help each other think about how they’d like these systems to be built in the future."

Addressing concerns about security of the scheme, he said: “We’d want to build a digital ID system that has the highest levels of security to give the public reassurance. Because, of course, when you’re logging into the gov.uk app and proving who you are, the main benefit is that you see all your information in one place. That’s why the public expects the very highest levels of security."

One of the biggest questions surrounding digital IDs is whether they are needed at all, given that millions of Brits already use passports, driving licences and other forms of ID.

Asked why the government believes a digital alternative is necessary, Mr Jones pointed to a frustration most people know all too well: dealing with public services. He said: “I think everybody knows when they’re trying to get in touch with the government or with public services, it’s not a great customer experience.

“You're either having to find the right telephone number and then wait in the queue or having to send paperwork in the post. So the whole point of digital ID is that by logging and improving who you are on the app, we can bring all of that to you on your phone."

An explainer on digital IDs, published in March, says: "Police will not be able to demand to see your digital ID – as with current precedent." It also explains that digital IDs will be free. Recent reports have said digital IDs are expected to be rolled out by 2029.