Comment on Record breaker Starmer is the 'most unpopular PM since polling began'
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 3 weeks agoI don’t really see the issue with digital ID per se. Almost all countries in the world do it. We’re very much an outlier for not having one.
Digit@lemmy.wtf 3 weeks ago
This seems factually incorrect at multiple levels.
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Fun fact: no it’s not. You’re either poorly informed or lying.
Digit@lemmy.wtf 3 weeks ago
Your confident reiteration (and ad-hominem) make an uncompelling argument.
A quick ask of the matter with an LLM (Mistral) gave the following answer:
Here’s a concise breakdown as of October 2025: Total Countries There are 195 sovereign states recognized by the UN (193 member states + Vatican City + Palestine as an observer state). Countries with Digital ID Systems Approximately 140+ countries have implemented or are piloting some form of national digital ID (e.g., India’s Aadhaar, Estonia’s e-Residency, or the EU’s eIDAS framework).
Fully operational: ~90–100 (e.g., India, Nigeria, Singapore, EU nations). Pilot/partial rollout: ~40–50 (e.g., Brazil, Canada, parts of Africa).
Countries Without Digital ID Roughly 55–60 countries lack a centralized digital ID system, often due to:
Infrastructure gaps (e.g., small island nations, conflict zones). Privacy concerns (e.g., Germany, parts of Scandinavia resist mandatory schemes). Early-stage planning (e.g., some Pacific or Caribbean nations).
Key Trends (2024–2025):
Africa/Asia: Rapid adoption (e.g., Ghana’s Ghana Card, Philippines’ PhilSys). Europe: EU-wide expansion of eIDAS 2.0 (digital wallets for all citizens by 2026). Americas: Slower uptake (U.S. has state-level initiatives like Mobile Driver’s Licenses; Latin America is mixed).
Why the range? Definitions vary—some count any government-issued digital credential (e.g., e-passports), while others require biometric-linked systems.
As of October 2025, there are at least 15–20 countries with all-purpose, mandatory digital ID systems that block access to work, banking, healthcare, or essential services if you refuse or lack enrollment. These systems are biometric-linked, government-enforced, and designed to exclude non-compliant individuals from formal life.
Strictly Mandatory (No Work/Services Without ID)
India (Aadhaar) – Blocks bank accounts, SIM cards, welfare, and formal jobs. Nigeria (NIN) – No SIM, passports, or salaries without it. China (Social Credit + Digital ID) – Required for travel, loans, and government jobs. Saudi Arabia (Absher/Tawakkalna) – Needed for employment, subsidies, and legal residency. Kenya (Huduma Namba) – Mandatory for SIMs, taxes, and state services. Pakistan (NADRA Smart CNIC) – No voting, banking, or property transactions. Bangladesh (National ID) – Blocks SIMs, salaries, and welfare. Indonesia (e-KTP) – Required for voting, healthcare, and formal contracts. Philippines (PhilSys) – Increasingly enforced for social benefits and jobs. Egypt (Biometric National ID) – Needed for subsidies and legal transactions. Ethiopia (Fayda) – Blocks SIMs, banking, and public-sector work. Peru (DNI Electrónico) – Mandatory for voting, healthcare, and contracts. Uganda (Ndaga Muntu) – SIM and land transactions frozen without it. Turkey (e-Devlet) – Required for healthcare, banking, and legal processes. Morocco (Carte d’Identité Électronique) – Excludes from formal economy. Tanzania (NIDA) – SIM and voting restrictions for non-compliance. Ghana (Ghana Card) – Blocks SIMs, pensions, and passports. Malaysia (MyKad) – Needed for voting, healthcare, and financial services.
De Facto Mandatory (Not Legally Forced but Impossible to Function Without)
Estonia (e-Residency) Singapore (SingPass) Rwanda (Irembo)
Key Trends
Africa/Asia lead enforcement (Nigeria, India, Pakistan). Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE) ties IDs to residency and employment. Latin America (Peru, Brazil) increasingly links IDs to social programs.
Notable Exceptions (No Mandatory Digital ID)
United States: No federal system; state-level REAL ID is required for domestic flights but not all services. Germany/France: Strong privacy laws block mandatory biometric IDs (though EU’s eIDAS 2.0 is pushing digital wallets). Canada/Australia: Pilot projects exist, but no nationwide mandatory scheme (yet). Nordic Countries: Digital IDs (e.g., Sweden’s BankID) are widespread but not legally enforced for all services.
Controversies & Workarounds
India: Supreme Court ruled Aadhaar cannot be mandatory for private services (e.g., schools, hospitals), but loopholes remain. Nigeria: Courts temporarily halted SIM-ID linkage in 2021, but enforcement resumed in 2023. China: Rural areas sometimes bypass strict enforcement, but urban centers face full exclusion.
Why the Push? Governments cite fraud reduction, welfare efficiency, and security, but critics argue it enables mass surveillance and exclusion of marginalized groups (e.g., refugees, the elderly).