Digital driving licences plan triggers security fears

“We already see that scammers can take 1000’s of kilos from financial institution accounts when persons are socially engineered to login and switch funds or to supply passwords and PINs to on-line financial institution accounts,” stated Nick France, the chief technical officer of cybersecurity agency Setigo. He additionally advised Infosecurity: “If trusted digital identities corresponding to driver’s licences and passports are topic to the identical type of assaults, the outcomes may very well be worse and extra long-lasting.”

Chris Linnell, Affiliate Director for Knowledge Privateness at tech safety agency Bridewell advised InfoSecurity {that a} compromised digital ID system wouldn’t simply lead to leaked telephone numbers or e-mail addresses. “A serious breach would doubtless expose full identities, resulting in id theft, fraud, and lasting hurt to victims’ monetary and private lives,” he stated. Linnell additionally urged the expertise might open the door to privateness considerations and  authorities overreach, as a result of the centralised strategy might allow “invasive surveillance”, giving authorities or its businesses entry to details about individuals’s each day lives. 

The science secretary showcased the brand new app and companies throughout an announcement yesterday, and claimed that by 2027 the GOV.UK Pockets will embrace Veteran Playing cards, DBS checks “and each different credential issued by the federal government”. 

Initially not less than, the digital driving licences and different paperwork might be non-compulsory for individuals who select to make use of them, with card licences and paper paperwork nonetheless being issued.

“Together with CDs, the Walkman and flip telephones, the overflowing drawer rammed with letters from the federal government and hours spent on maintain to get a primary appointment will quickly be consigned to historical past,” Kyle stated. “GOV.UK Pockets will imply that each letter or id doc you obtain from the federal government may very well be issued to you just about.”

The GOV.UK Pockets might be obtainable on iOS and Android units, with the cell driver’s licence as a consequence of be piloted this yr. By 2027, digital variations of all forex paper or card credentials issued by the federal government should be obtainable, it says.

The GOV.UK App will embrace a personalised homepage so customers can shortly entry options most helpful to them. In response to DSIT, this implies somebody who owns a automobile might choose to see details about MoTs or street tax, “delivered to them by a model they already know and belief, GOV.UK.”

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