Former prime minister Tony Blair has called for the use of digital identities in controlling immigration into the UK.
He highlighted the issue in an opinion piece for The Sunday Times (paywall) in which he also emphasises the importance of government policy in promoting the use of AI.
Blair’s perspective on digital identities in the control of immigration harks back to plans for a national identity card and a national database during his time as prime minister in the 2000s. These became highly contentious and were dropped as soon as the Coalition Government came to power in 2010.
While not calling for identity cards, he said digital identity will be crucial in controlling immigration, which is one of the most controversial issues in British politics.
“We need a plan to control immigration,” he said. “If we don’t have rules, we get prejudices.
“In office, I believed the best solution was a system of identity, so that we know precisely who has a right to be here. With, again, technology, we should move as the world is moving to digital ID. If not, new border controls will have to be highly effective.”
Allaying fears
The comment prompted Nick Mothershaw, chief identity strategist at the non-profit Open Identity Exchange, to issue a statement aimed at allaying fears about the implications.
“There is a misconception that in order for people to prove who they are digitally and with trust, there must be a central national ID database or that we must all have a government issued national ID card,” he said.
“This is not the case at all. A well designed digital ID can be issued by a certified private sector provider and stored in a person’s own ‘digital wallet’ for them to control who it is shared with, without the ability for any one organisation or government to follow their movements.
“The UK’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework is key to helping us get to this position.
“It’s vital that misconceptions about digital ID being national ID cards do not stall its progress in the UK, as digital ID has the potential to drive huge economic growth through the UK's digital economy, beyond its immediate benefits.
“We urge the new Government quickly enact into law the proposed Digital Verification Service legislation that supports the use of trusted digital ID so that the UK can move forward with its digital ID strategy.”
Advocating AI
Blair’s piece adds that AI can be a big factor in boosting productivity and economic growth, as well as making public services more efficient.
“We need a plan to control immigration,” he said. “If we don’t have rules, we get prejudices.
“In office, I believed the best solution was a system of identity, so that we know precisely who has a right to be here. With, again, technology, we should move as the world is moving to digital ID. If not, new border controls will have to be highly effective.”
He adds that AI can be a big factor in boosting productivity and economic growth, as well as making public services more efficient.
“We show how applying AI to the processes of government can cut workforce time by 20%, and, by a specific analysis of the Department for Work and Pensions, how both the way the department operates and the service it gives to those who depend on it can be transformed, as well as cutting the large benefit fraud bill.
“Using studies from around the world, we show how AI can change education both for teachers and students. And we highlight the fact that, after the US and China, Britain occupies third position in AI globally, and therefore focusing on it and associated areas, such as life sciences and clean energy, is also the right industrial strategy.
“Over two terms of government, we estimate the savings to run into tens of billions, allowing us to get growth back to the levels it was in the early part of the century.”
He adds that he is aware of potential downsides in the use of AI and says it should be a matter for a national debate.
