What do Sex Matters supporters think of digital identity?

We sent out a survey to Sex Matters supporters to ask for their views on digital identity. 889 people responded in 24 hours. The comments were thoughtful and constructive. 50 percent said they had taken part in the government’s consultation or were planning to. Another 40 percent said they would consider it.

It’s a difficult one. I imagine supporters of Sex Matters will have very diverse views on the digital ID issue so realistically you have to allow for that. It also makes perfect sense for you to raise the issue to ensure that any new ID scheme reflects biological sex. I was absolutely gobsmacked to learn that people can simply put whatever sex they want to on their passport. I’m sure this will be an evolving issue and as an organisation you are always thoughtful and flexible which is the main thing.

Whatever you think about digital ID, you can use the opportunity of the consultation to tell the government what you think – and to say that sex should be included. You only need to answer two of the questions. It takes about ten minutes. Here is our guidance:

Respond to the consultation on digital ID

What do people think about the government’s plan on digital identity?

There is a lot of scepticism about and distrust of the proposal. Just over half of respondents were strongly negative about the government’s plan, with only 15 percent strongly positive. Concerns focus on distrust in government IT systems, privacy and security risks, and fear of misuse or scope creep.

Strongly negative was the most common position:

We are not a “papers please” society and I do not trust the state to keep my data safe. I think they are authoritarian in nature.

I do not want the government or authorities having any more access to my life. I don’t even use a supermarket loyalty card

Most law-abiding citizens have ID already. No need for anything digital.

We already have multiple forms of ID, why do we need yet another one, and one as unreliable and unstable as a digital version that will no doubt be forced on us as the “be all and end all” ID solution. As countless examples have proved, digital security is not reliable and may be easily hacked and taken over by those with unfriendly intentions. This is absolutely crazy. Why not just leave all our doors unlocked and our passwords written on the walls? Insane.

I have a National insurance number, tax details , NHS number etc. They have my information and this money should be spent on other things.

I don’t trust Government institutions with my information. I also don’t like being told that something like this is compulsory. I am very concerned for people who do not have or want the devices required for this technology. We already have to do so much “online”. People are already isolated from services.

Government intrusion. Not convinced it is necessary.

It’s a slippery slope! It will become mandatory.

Around a third of people were somewhat supportive of the proposal or thought that digital ID is inevitable:

It can be helpful.

I am reasonably relaxed about the idea.

It’s ok, but only if it’s accurate – with biological sex. If it doesn’t have people’s correct sex on it, then it will be a huge waste of money & cause endless problems.

I’m not sure it’s the answer but do think if it’s inevitable then it should be useful and have sex as well as age and date of birth and photo. It can be used for lots of things then.

I’m fairly neutral on the idea – I can see positives (ease of dealing with services, proof of residence/eligibility for services etc) but also negatives (correcting inevitable mistakes could be exhausting/difficult).

I am in favour of accurate, regulated and verifiable ID similar to passports to be usable across society’s activities – eg travel, voting, employment.

We should have proper ID cards of some sort to prove our rights to certain services. It should not be possible for people to claim things they are not entitled to. Not sure if ID should be digital or not. Needs to be very well protected against hacking if digital.

Around 15 percent of people were more positive:

We need to move into the modern age with digital ID that can always be with you and is accurate and verifiable.

I don’t *like* the idea but truthful ID is essential for life in the modern world both for the bearer and for those who require their services. For those of us who do not have a driver’s licence and have no need for/cannot afford a passport, digital ID could be the answer.

I am elderly and no longer have a passport or driving licence so it would be a useful form of ID for me, although I am wary of it being misused by criminals.

Many European countries have ID and it makes everything administratively easier for citizens. The only misgivings I have are related to cyber security (everything gets hacked these days), and of course the stupid notion of omitting sex.

I have reservations about compulsory ID but a voluntary digital ID might be a very useful and hassle-saving mechanism for lots of situations where you have to prove ID.

We must be about the only country in the world that does not have some form of ID card with biometric information to avoid fraud.

I think having ID is a great idea and would make life much easier. It works in other countries so why not here.

I believe that introducing a digital ID will help streamline government operations and provide greater convenience for the public.

What do people think of Sex Matters’ proposal?

There was strong support for the idea that sex should be on digital ID if it happens. 85 percent were strongly positive about Sex Matters’ proposal to include accurate, biological sex.

The reasons most often cited are accuracy, safeguarding, and rights-based contexts such as single-sex sport and services. Many people raised concerns about ambiguity if sex is not included.

If it goes ahead, and I hope it does not, then it should be factual and may as well be used to protect women’s private spaces without trans people screaming nonsense about genital checks. If this is denied it shows further how in bad faith this government acts when it comes to upholding the rights of women and the Supreme Court ruling.

Men declaring that they are women is dangerous. It often leads to abuse and intimidation. If we have to have digital ID then we need to know who is really a woman and who is lying.

It would be clear and logical. Particularly now that there are groups determined to press home their superior interests of gender over sex.

Without sex the UK reinforces the myth of “gender” self-ID.

This is vital. We all know the well-rehearsed arguments. Removing sex markers is the agenda of those who say sex is “complicated (sic)” or irrelevant. This is wrong wrong wrong! Sex matters and leaving out this vital demographic information would be a huge mistake. It will embed self-ID by the back door.

We must fight any attempt to omit, erase or otherwise undermine the central importance of a clear definition of sex in law and life.

To avoid adding sex would be another government tactic, like delaying the guidance for single sex services. Government are too afraid to upset the gender woo woo lobby.

Keep ID based on biological sex.

Would be helpful for those who proof of biological sex is necessary for employment, sporting involvement and approved online biological sex identity.

No brainer. Must show biological sex to discern appropriateness of entry to some single gender services and preserve the right of women to be safe and knowing that they are within a female only space when necessary and appropriate.

Biological sex matters. It matters for accessing single sex spaces, services & opportunities. It matters when applying for jobs, scholarships, political roles & political roles etc. It is vital that government identification records biological sex.

Sex is not changeable therefore only fact should be recorded. The sex you are observed at birth.

I do not want digital ID. However it would be an absolute must to have biological sex recorded. But biological sex should be recorded and unchangeable on passports, medical and GP records and all other official documents.

If we’re going to use it, some people will want it to prove their sex. For all the reasons Sex Matters has so powerfully campaigned on, this needs to be an accurate record of biological sex.

The most common question was why we are proposing that sex on digital identity should be an optional field.

I think that it should be mandatory to include sex on digital IDs, as it is such a problematic subject for so many people and organisations. Having one’s birth sex clearly stated should help to empower organisations to regulate single sex spaces, services and sports.

I think that it should be compulsory to record biological sex.

I think it is odd that it would be optional.

Sex should never be an “option”. Should be mandatory and based on biological sex.

There were also questions about how sex could be verified for people who were not born in the UK.

Would GPs certify biological sex or something else? I’m not sure the NHS is likely to provide accurate data. If some of the data is uncertain, I’m not sure about the value of any of it.

It sounds a bit vague for anyone not born in the UK. Would a man be able to claim he was a woman or a woman be able to claim she was a man? How would they need to prove their sex?

The main concern I have about relying on digital ID is that it is easy to falsify; there need to be reliable ways of verifying facts posted online.

We will produce a set of “frequently asked questions” to go into more detail. A small number of people said that they wouldn’t support sex on digital ID on principle.

Nothing, no information included would make me support Digital ID.

It must not go ahead in any form.

No one needs to carry ID/Sex ID. We know the difference between men and women and there are a minuscule number of “passes” in the UK.

If digital ID goes ahead it should contain as little information as possible.

I am against the proposal being made at all. I don’t want the idea preemptively legitimised by haggling re the form it takes.

The way it is set up looks like you are conceding to a Government intervention that is not needed or required. Of course in reality sex should be on there, but it should be a flat no to Digital ID.

Many people took the opportunity to thank Sex Matters for its work!

Please keep going, we need strong, intelligent women like you to raise awareness about these issues and to fight our corner. We will win in the end.

Your perseverance and motivation is an inspiration.

You do brilliant work on this and everything else, keep going.

Well done for spotting the danger of their initial proposals and successfully lobbying to stop the use of passport or driving licence sex. That would have been a disaster if implemented as proposed.

Think you may find this an uphill battle but I 100% support you in it

The information provided has been very thorough and clear. Thank you.

Thanks for raising the issue which I wasn’t fully aware of.

Thank you for your relentless hard work, attempting to persuade politicians to see common-sense in this matter.

I think this subject is a brilliant one for Sex Matters to get its teeth into. Good luck!

I’ve got too much going on at the moment to worry about all this, therefore incredibly grateful that you exist to fight this on our behalf.

I wouldn’t have bothered with responding to the Government consultation without SM alerting me to this important issue. Thank you!

I would definitely like to take part in this campaign.

Lots of people asked for more information on how to find and do the consultation – we will reply by email.

The consultation ends on Tuesday 5th May. Read our guidance, and then click through to the government survey and answer two questions.

Respond to the consultation on digital ID