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UK Puts First Price Tag on National Digital ID Scheme

UK officials have released the first public cost estimate for a national digital ID scheme, offering a clearer view of the investment required to roll out government-backed digital identity services.

2025-11-28CC-BY-4.0digital-idnational-eidgovernment

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Key Facts

  • The estimate covers multi-year spending on infrastructure, integration, and operations for a nationwide digital ID system.
  • It follows earlier work on GOV.UK One Login and related identity assurance initiatives.
  • Publishing cost projections is meant to increase transparency and inform debate over benefits, risks, and alternatives.

Card Text

The UK has moved from vision to budget planning for a national digital ID scheme by publishing an initial multi-year cost estimate, setting the stage for more detailed scrutiny of how digital identity investments will be prioritized and governed.

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