UK digital veterans ID card sees low adoption, government pushes digital identity

More than 15,000 former members of the UK's armed forces have applied for a digital version of their veterans ID card since its October launch. However, this uptake represents less than 1% of the 1.8 million eligible former personnel, as reported by The Register.

The optional digital card, housed within the GOV.UK One Login app, offers limited functionality compared to its physical counterpart. It cannot be used for photo identification on domestic British Airways flights or for Veterans Railcard applications. Current uses are primarily in-person, such as doctor registrations or museum entry discounts. The government plans to rebrand the app as the GOV.UK Wallet and is testing a digital driving license within it, with wider rollout planned for later this year. Programmatic verification for online use is also under development.

This initiative is part of a broader government push towards digital identity solutions. While the low adoption of the digital veterans ID card highlights current limitations, the ongoing development of the GOV.UK Wallet and programmatic verification signals a continued investment in digital credentials. This aligns with evolving digital identity strategies, though specific regulatory mandates, like those previously proposed for right-to-work checks, remain subject to change.

Source: The Register