Online ID in the UK

Britain's cinemas are to introduce digital ID cards for adults and children as proof of age for entry to age restricted films.

The UK Cinema Association, which represents 90% of cinemas, will from Monday accept a digital ID app which confirms the age of an adult or child to box office staff based on a previously uploaded official ID document such as a passport.

The technology, developed by digital ID provider Yoti is part of a wider move towards digital IDs for adults and children where there are restrictions on age-related products.

The Home Office is trialling Yoti's AI facial photo checks that can estimate age and its apps at supermarket checkouts to prevent children buying alcohol. If successful, ministers will consider amending the law to allow digital age checks for alcohol sales. It is not allowed under current legislation.  About 3 million Brits have already downloaded the Yoti app.

To obtain the digital age ID app, the person has to prove identity with a document such as a passport then take a live picture to confirm. The information is stored in a government-grade database that Yoti  claims it does not have access to and which can be erased at any time by the individual. However it should be noted that similar systems used for online ID generally maintained a full database of usage supposedly for 'fraud prevention' auditing.

The digital ID card shows the verified photo of the individual and their age as over 18, 15 or 12. There is a hologram on the card that moves when the phone is tilted to prevent spoofing. However this suggests that phones will have to be handed over to cinema staff to check the hologram.

An Online ID card will be launched in the UK next month. The scheme is initially targetted for transaction with government agencies such as the tax office and the DVLA.

The Government was a bit too quick to deny it was bringing in ID cards by the back door after it revealed plans to offer everyone a virtual ID. Government aides claimed in a rather circular argument that rather than bringing in ID cards by a different method the scheme would make any attempt to reintroduce a compulsory document less likely:

This removes once and for all the need for an identity card because it will be possible to prove your identity securely without one.

More than half a million people are expected to sign up to use the Verify project within a year. Under the programme, users will choose one of five private providers -- including Experian and the Post Office -- to complete an online security check.

This will give them a username and password, as well as a code sent to their mobile phone, which will give them access to government services.

Driving licences and some self-assessment tax returns will be among the first services to be offered as part of the scheme next month, with tax credits and benefits records expected to follow in March.

Emma Carr, director of Big Brother Watch, which has been involved in the scheme's development, said:

 It has to ensure that this is a scheme that the public can have full confidence in. They must make themselves very clear about how it will work, including details of what safeguards are in place to ensure that the private companies being used to verify a users identity won't wrongly gain access to any information.'