- One in three (one in two young) has an ID photo on their phone
- Many Britons even have a copy of someone else’s too
- Digital IDs could solve concerns about privacy and security
With news about digital driver’s license set to arrive in the UK in 2025, new research from Thales has revealed how crucial they could be to increase the citizen’s safety.
It found an estimated one in three Britons stores a photo or scan of their official ID on their phone-one numbers closer to one in two among younger citizens (46% of 16-24 year olds and 51% of 25 -34 -year).
Despite self -satisfaction, 15% of British inhabitants have been victims of fraud in the last month alone – another trend that is more widespread among younger persons.
Britain’s digital IDs could be a cybersecurity boost
In addition, 26% of the British hold a photo or scan of their official ID in several places where one in five even stores a copy of their friend or family member’s ID on their own device.
However, it does not just stop with forms of identification because Thales found that almost a quarter (23%) of the British hold bank information in uncryted folders.
Plans to introduce digital driver’s license via a new wallet in the British government app could provide the improved security that many Britons clearly need thanks to further layers of encryption.
With 49% feel uncomfortable sharing bank statements with landlords and 58% dissatisfied with giving away their personal details when signing up for services, the new government -issued digital IDs could tackle the concerns of privacy and simplify online verification processes.
Digital ID users may also be able to edit certain information, such as their home address when using their ID to provide proof of age.
Thales Strategic Marketing Director for Digital Identity, John Cullen, summarized: “With secure digital identities, consumers can protect their personal information more effectively.”
It is unclear whether British digital IDs will be integrated with native smartphone systems, such as Apple Wallet, and citizens have already expressed concern about the stability and applicability of the upcoming app feature after similar efforts from NHS during the pandemic.
