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UK faces backlash over mandatory Digital ID — could US be next?

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More than 2.8 million Brits have signed a petition as of Wednesday, calling on the U.K. government to reverse its mandatory Digital ID system over concerns it will lead to «mass surveillance and digital control.»
The ID program, dubbed «Brit Card» and announced last week by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is set to be rolled out by August 2029 in an attempt by the Labour government to crack down on illegal immigration as it would bar anyone who doesn’t have a digital ID from working in the U.K.
But critics of the plan argue its effects on illegal immigration will not be significant enough to make up for the privacy concerns it poses.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer gives his speech during the Labour Party conference at ACC Liverpool on Sept. 30, 2025 in Liverpool, England. ( Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
STARMER’S DIGITAL ID WORK REQUIREMENT SPARKS UPROAR FROM UK’S LEFT AND RIGHT
The White House confirmed to Fox News Digital that this controversial step to curb immigration is not currently being considered by President Donald Trump, despite his commitment to curbing illegal immigration and his security crackdowns in cities across the U.S.
But according to one security expert, digital ID is actually not nearly as concerning as most opponents of the system believe it to be.
«When the government issues a digital ID, they’re issuing it to the individual. That means, just like your paper ID sits in your physical wallet, your digital ID sits in your digital wallet, it’s not stored at a central location,» Eric Starr, founder and CEO of Ultrapass Identity Corp, told Fox News Digital.
«When you pass your digital ID to a relying party, they don’t ping a central database,» he continued. «They look at the digital ID you’ve presented, and through cryptography, can determine the authenticity of the digital document.»
Starr, whose company works with governments around the world to provide decentralized digital ID options, said the controversy around digital ID comes down to poor conception and a lack of understanding.
The tech guru said he believes the U.K. went about its rollout of a digital ID the wrong way by making it mandatory and releasing few details on the system itself.
Starr argued that governments have the right to know who its citizens are and nations, including the U.S., already have systems in place that keep track of its people, including by issuing Social Security Numbers – a system that the U.S. has relied on since 1936.
When pressed about concerns relating to a government’s ability to enforce mass surveillance through the ease that the technology could offer, even if that is not the original intent, Starr said it comes down to establishing those protections for personal privacy from the get-go.

A Harmons Grocery Store employee does a demonstration as she scans a QR Code (R) from a customer’s phone (L) to verify his age on a beer purchase at a Harmons Grocery store on August 4, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (George Frey/Getty Images)
NORTH KOREAN HACKERS USE AI TO FORGE MILITARY IDS
«We care deeply about personal freedom in ways that other countries don’t think about it, and generally speaking, individuals don’t want the federal government in their business every day,» Starr explained in reference to the American public. «The fear that people have about digital identity is that it’s a surveillance opportunity.»
Starr explained that some are concerned that any time a digital ID is used, it will then alert or «phone home» a government tracking system – a concern that privacy advocates like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the ACLU have flagged.
«It’s not about the technology, but managing fear and managing what actually gets deployed,» he added, noting that safeguards can be put in place to counter these concerns.
Even though there is no federal version of a digital ID, more than a dozen states have already begun issuing mobile driver’s licenses.
A federal version of a digital ID would, in theory, just include an individual’s information that the government already has access to, including details like passport information.
But there’s another major concern people flag when it comes to digital IDs – how to ensure personal information is protected from identity theft, which has become a major concern in recent years amid mass cyber breaches.

A person scans and downloads an app to start the process of converting their physical driver license to an official digital version to be stored on a mobile phone at a Harmons Grocery store on Aug. 4, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (George Frey/Getty Images)
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According to Starr, the «architecture of digital identity» is different from centralized databases used by institutions like hospitals, which have found themselves vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Decentralized systems, as in the case of a digital ID, make hacking «nearly impossible» because «the only way to hack a million IDs is to hack a million phones,» he explained.
«There are solutions. It’s not a technology issue, it’s an education issue, it’s a fear issue,» Starr said. «It’s also poorly conceived solutions that open the door for bad behavior.»
cybercrime,technologies,donald trump,united kingdom,world,white house
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Nursery apologizes for alleged antisemitic remark to jobseeker in rejection text message: ‘Repugnant’

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Public outrage erupted after a young Israeli jobseeker received a rejection message that civil rights activists condemned as «repugnant,» sparking a protest outside an Australian plant nursery and prompting the business to publicly apologize for its co-owner’s alleged antisemitic remarks.
A 24-year-old Jewish woman, who wished to remain anonymous, received the rejection text after applying for a job at The Garden of Eden Nursery in Albert Park in Melbourne, the Herald Sun reported on Saturday.
Brett Dahan allegedly told the woman that the position had been filled by «someone with a semblance of humanity» and that she should leave the country — just weeks after she had moved to Australia.
«Unfortunately, the position has been filled by someone with a semblance of humanity and who cares for plants, animals, and the environment. Good luck on your journey and I hope you leave Melbourne soon! Free Palestine and end genocide NOW. You’re complicit in IT,» the text read.
IRAN’S PROXY WAR ON JEWS IS AN ALL-OUT ATTACK ON WESTERN CIVILIZATION. AUSTRALIA GETS IT
The Garden of Eden Nursery in Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. (Google Maps)
Having expected a warm welcome after her move, the woman said she was «shocked and deeply disappointed» by the hostility of the response, the Herald Sun reported.
«I came to Australia believing it was a fair and welcoming country but reading those words – so full of hostility – was heartbreaking,» she said. «I was judged, not as a person, but as an Israeli.»
In a phone call with the Herald Sun, Dahan said he «did not know» why he had sent the message. The local outlet added that he repeatedly failed to answer any follow-up questions.
ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST CONFRONTS FORMER IDF SOLDIER ON NEW YORK BEACH, GETS QUESTIONED IN RETURN

The Melbourne skyline in Australia. (Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
The incident has sparked widespread backlash from the Jewish community, with protesters gathering outside the nursery, news.com.au reported.
According to Australia’s Equal Opportunity Act, discriminating against a job applicant based on their nationality is illegal.
In a statement shared by the company on Sunday, the nursery, run by twin brothers Brett and Scott Dahan, later issued a statement apologizing to the Jewish community and expressing regret over the message sent «by a staff member.»
«The Garden of Eden Nursery would like to express its regret and extend its sincere apologies to the community in regards to the recent message sent to a member of the public by a staff member,» the company said, adding that the matter is being addressed internally.
NETANYAHU SLAMS AUSTRALIA PM, SAYS HE ‘BETRAYED ISRAEL AND ABANDONED AUSTRALIA’S JEWS’

Aerial view of Melbourne, Australia. (iStock)
«We are deeply upset and disappointed by the content of the message, which in no way reflects the values, standards, or spirit of our business or team,» the company continued.
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The country’s Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman Dr. Dvir Abramovich criticized the apology Sunday and said true accountability would be to close the business.
«Mr. Dahan’s repugnant text wasn’t a slip. It was a deliberate, written act meant to humiliate and degrade,» Abramovich said in a statement on social media. «Apologizing ‘to the community,’ blaming ‘a staff member,’ and saying it will be handled ‘internally’ is not accountability.»
Abramovich emphasized that the woman deserves a direct and personal apology from Dahan.
The Garden of Eden Nursery did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
australia,world,anti semitism,israel
INTERNACIONAL
Estados Unidos: golpeado por las derrotas, Donald Trump sigue atacando a Zohran Mamdani, pero el alcalde electo de Nueva York no se queda callado
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UFC legend endorses pro-law enforcement pick for California governor: ‘We need his strength’

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EXCLUSIVE: Ultimate Fighting Championship pioneer and legend Royce Gracie has endorsed a pro-law enforcement candidate who is running for governor in California.
One of the biggest names in mixed martial arts and the first UFC champion, Gracie made a name for himself by taking down much larger opponents through precision and skill.
Now he is weighing into the political sphere in the race to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and widely rumored to have 2028 presidential ambitions.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Gracie said he is endorsing sheriff Chad Bianco’s long-shot bid to replace Newsom in 2026. Gracie, a three-time UFC champion, called Bianco a «fighter» who is «exactly who we need.»
KATIE PORTER SAYS SHE REGRETS VIRAL OUTBURSTS AT REPORTER, STAFFER
Riverside County, California sheriff Chad Bianco announces his 2026 Republican campaign for governor, in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, in Riverside, California, on Feb. 17, 2025. (Chad Bianco campaign)
«When Gavin Newsom closed businesses, schools, and churches, one person stood against him, Sheriff Chad Bianco,» Gracie told Fox News Digital.
«Chad Bianco didn’t fold. He’s a fighter, and a fighter is exactly who we need as Governor of California,» he added, saying, «We need his strength to turn this state around after the mess Gavin Newsom has created.»
Bianco, who is a vocal Trump supporter and the sheriff of Riverside County, just east of Los Angeles, announced his gubernatorial candidacy back in February, saying, «Californians deserve better.»
He has framed his candidacy around restoring safety and a better quality of life to California.
«This campaign will not be about the divide between Republicans and Democrats. It will be about the common goal we all have for a better California,» Bianco emphasized at his campaign launch.
«As Californians, we want leadership that actually cares about the cost of living …and leaders who will do something about it,» Bianco said in his address. «We want homes we can afford. We want air conditioning when it’s hot, not rolling blackouts. We want water for the crops and animals that feed us. We want the opportunity to achieve the California Dream, not be prevented from it because of red tape and regulation from government. We want honesty and transparency from our elected officials. We want lower taxes and less government waste. We want sanity restored and common sense to prevail.»
PELOSI SPOKESMAN SIDESTEPS RETIREMENT RUMORS AS DEM PRIMARY THREATS WAIT IN WINGS

Jiu-Jitsu black belt Royce Gracie kicks at cruiserweight boxer Art Jimmerson during a 1st round match in the Ultimate Fighter Championships in Denver, Colorado. Gracie went on to win the match and eventually the championship. (Markus Boes)
Bianco, who has worked in law enforcement for more than three decades, was first elected sheriff in 2018. A vocal critic of Newsom and soft on crime policies, Bianco was one of the leaders who helped push California’s Proposition 36 ballot measure to a landslide victory in last November’s elections. The measure, which took effect in December, mandates stiffer penalties and longer sentences in California for certain drug and theft crimes.
In response to Gracie’s endorsement, Bianco told Fox News Digital that «Californians are waking up, and we are going to clean up this state.»
«Gavin Newsom has been chasing away Californians in record numbers,» he said, adding, «I’m grateful for the support of patriots like Royce Gracie.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment but did not receive a statement by the time of publication.
Bianco is facing a steep uphill battle to win as a Republican in deep blue California. It has been nearly two decades since a Republican won a statewide race.
Though still early, the current frontrunner to be Newsom’s successor is former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, a progressive who has made resisting President Donald Trump a central theme of her campaign.
CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS TOLD TO IGNORE SIGNS OF A FIRE: REPORT

Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco (left) received an endorsement from UFC legend Royce Gracie (right) for California governor. (Images courtesy of Chad Bianco Campaign)
Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary under the Biden administration and former California attorney general, is also running for the Democratic nomination.
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The Democratic and Republican primaries will be held on June 2 next year and the general election will be on Nov. 3.
california,gavin newsom,elections
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