Dusty Wentworth

Presented as a gesture of gratitude and convenience, the digital ID for ex-service personnel is in reality the perfect low-resistance pilot for universal digital identity . The UK Government’s new Digital ID Card for Veterans , launched this month, has been presented as a triumph of modernisation. Ministers describe it as “a secure and convenient way for former service personnel to prove their status.” In practice, it may prove something else entirely: how effectively a government can test compliance on its way towards a universal digital identity system. The digital card, stored within the GOV.UK One Login app , is intended to replace the physical HM Armed Forces Veteran Card introduced in 2018. It displays a veteran’s name, photograph and service branch, allowing access to healthcare, welfare support or veteran discounts. Eventually, officials say, it will link to a wider GOV.UK Wallet – a system designed to hold digital versions of passports, driving licences and other...