𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer’s plans to bring in a digital ID scheme have been dealt a blow with a new report warning of the dangers of “mass data breaches”. It would be “irresponsible” to roll out the new form of ID with the present digital infrastructure, the cross-party science and technology committee warns.

The MPs sound the alarm about the the public sector’s “growing reliance on a small number of major technology providers”, including Palantir, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. The report warns of the danger of the UK leaving itself “at the mercy of foreign commercial and state actors that do not share our strategic interests”.

The MPs are also concerned that personal information could end up in the wrong hands, saying: “[We] remain concerned that the current Government is not holding itself to, or delivering, the standards of information and data security needed to secure and maintain public trust. This failure threatens the Government’s digital transformation ambitions, and undermines public trust in its planned digital ID. Major cultural transformation is required to prevent mass data breaches from happening in the future.”

Sir Keir doubled-down on his plans to introduce digital ID in last month’s King’s Speech. The planned app would be the “front door” for accessing public services.

The MPs claim that despite the Government’s ambitions to transform public services using digital technology there is “no coherent plan”.

Dame Chi Onwurah, who chairs the committee, said: “A critical part of this transformation should include reducing the UK’s dependence on a small number of big US tech companies like Palantir… Only once the foundations of the UK’s digital infrastructure are secure, and public trust has been gained, should the Government proceed with its planned digital ID. The success or failure of this project will be a defining test of its wider digital transformation ambitions.”

The MPs want the Government to exercise its “break clause” in its 2027 contract with Palantir for the “NHS Federated Data Platform” – which is intended to make it easier to share information across the NHS. The MPs say either an in-house replacement should be developed or an alternative UK provider should be found.

Louis Mosley, head of Palantir UK, hit back at the MPs, saying: “There is a serious debate to be had about digital transformation and digital sovereignty at a time of both rapid technological change and geopolitical uncertainty. Sadly, you won’t find any sign of it in this report. Instead the Committee has decided to put the politics of the playground before public services, arguing for the rejection of technology that is proven to deliver more NHS operations, less crime and better military capability.

“The Committee heard evidence from the highest levels of the NHS that adoption has exceeded targets and that NHS Trusts were seeing benefits ‘in the form of additional operations, waiting list management and discharge co-ordination’. By calling for the cancellation of the programme that is delivering these benefits, they are trying to grab a quick headline at the expense of their own constituents’ care.”

Shadow Science Secretary Julia Lopez said: “This report confirms what we already know: Labour is failing to seize the opportunities presented by rapid technological advancement. Instead of using technology to deliver more for less for the taxpayer, there are now 8,000 more civil servants than there were in July 2024. The one silver lining is that the Government must now abandon its misguided plans for a mandatory Digital ID system.”