A motions has been passed by the authority to stand against Downing Street’s proposals to introduce a new identification system.
Already at the centre of widespread controversy, Labour has touted its digital ID proposals as a solution to illegal immigration. However, a number of civil rights and privacy campaign groups have suggested this would do little to deter undocumented arrivals and instead pose a significant threat to freedoms for Britons.
Many are concerned that although initially introduced to prove someone has the right to work in the UK, over time the identification system would be used for a host of other purposes. In turn this would erode privacy protections for residents and citizens, and therefore represents a major affront on liberties.
Now South Oxfordshire Council has formalised its standpoint on the concept, passing a Lib Dem motion to reject the policy outright. The decision was made late-October, with wording describing digital ID as ‘an expensive measure that will undermine public trust, will do nothing to address the actual challenges facing residents in South Oxfordshire, and fails to protect our core British values of liberty, privacy and fairness’.
‘Labour’s Mandatory ID scheme comes with a host of privacy, data security and digital inclusion concerns,’ said Cllr Mike Giles, who first tabled the motion.
‘South Oxfordshire has voted to protect the interests of local residents, by opposing mandatory ID, rogue state surveillance and the use of biometric technology,’ he continued. ‘Liberal Democrats will always stand up for civil liberties and I am pleased South Oxfordshire has become the first council to oppose these intrusive plans.’
Image: Onur Binay / Unsplash
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