Oh God, What Now? Card Declined – Inside the Digital I.D. Wars
Oct 14, 2025
Joining the discussion is Alex Hern, the Technology and AI correspondent for The Economist. He sheds light on the controversial UK digital ID scheme and its implications on civil liberties. The conversation dives into the 'Lethal Trifecta', detailing risks associated with untrusted AI inputs and sensitive data access. Alex argues for nationalizing digital ID to enhance public services, juxtaposing positive international examples like Estonia with the pitfalls of India's Aadhaar system. The debate intensifies over government competence in tech projects and the potential benefits and skepticism surrounding digital IDs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Two Very Different Digital ID Models
- The policy splits into two different projects: a centralised government database and a separate digital ID app tied to biometrics.
- Alex Hern argues these are distinct choices with different risks and benefits that the government must clarify.
Why Government IT Projects Collapse
- Government IT projects fail because software is hard to specify and resists speedups by adding people.
- Alex references 'The Mythical Man Month' to explain why contracting and changing scope blow up costs and timelines.
Politics Beats Technical Design
- Public opposition is the biggest political hurdle: Britain lacks a papers-please culture and resists state ID mandates.
- Alex argues that once the 'papers please' threshold is crossed, political buy-in evaporates.
