A WARNING has been issued to Brits over the new digital licences that could be forced on 50 million people.
Digital driving licences and veteran cars are set to be available to download under plans to “drag the government into the 2020s”.
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The digital wallets will be able to hold multiple documents – including Blue Badges, PIP letters, and DBS by 2027.
Even birth certificates, marriage certificates and passports are on the agenda.
This major technological advancement has sparked security concerns that the GOV.UK Wallet could be come a target for hackers.
Infosecurity magazine has compiled comments from experts that suggest holding such large volumes of personal information in one place has its risks.
Nick France, the chief technical officer of cybersecurity firm Setigo told Infosecurity: “We already see that scammers can take thousands of pounds from bank accounts when people are socially engineered to login and transfer funds or to provide passwords and PINs to online bank accounts.”
He continued: “If trusted digital identities such as driver’s licences and passports are subject to the same kind of attacks, the results could be worse and more long-lasting.”
Chris Linnell, Associate Director for Data Privacy at tech security firm Bridewell believes this type of technology could open the door to privacy concerns.
He said: “A major breach would likely expose complete identities, leading to identity theft, fraud, and lasting harm to victims’ financial and personal lives.”
This “voluntary” movement is meant to save money and time and take advantage of smartphone security.
However, digital IDs could be forced upon Brits if not enough sign up voluntarily, the Technology Secretary has suggested.
Peter Kyle refused four times to rule out compulsory online identification when grilled by The Sun – only saying it was not necessary “right now”.
He faced questions at the launch of a brand-new government app that will let people upload current paper-based cards like driving licences.
From June, users will be able to prove their age and identity with the gadget on their mobile phone.
Asked if this was a “slippery slope” to becoming a legal requirement, Mr Kyle said: “This is a slippery slope to people getting what they actually need and desire, and that is having the documents they need.
“They’re not rolling it out on them when they go forward. What I’m creating today is products that are so desirable people are going to want to have them.
“I don’t know why somebody would want to carry around a paper based driving license when they have the option of having it on their site with their smartphone.”
Pressed on mandating the cards, he said: “I don’t think we’re going to need the compulsion right now, because simply the desirability of it and the fact that retail, hospitality, pubs and clubs and then online stores that are selling products and services that have an age limit, they can all use one or two other of these services.
“So the speed and efficiency and the convenience of interacting via the technology that we are releasing is going to be so compelling that I think most people will automatically engage with it.”
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