Comrade Starmer and his cabinet of incompetents have made no secret of their ambitions to cosy up to the state capitalists of the People’s Republic of China. Despite numerous human rights abuses, invasions and accusations of spying, Starmer and Reeves are keen to see investment from the emerging superpower. Although supposedly a Communist society where everyone is equal, in reality it is a brutal dictatorship that only enriches the elite of the Communist Party.
It is also rolling out a digital ID system, which will allow Beijing to have more control over online activities and increase its people’s worries about surveillance and censorship. At the heart of this initiative is the newly launched ‘cyberspace identity’ system – a government-managed credential, issued by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) in partnership with the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which links a person’s real-name ID, facial recognition scan, and a unique tokenised identifier for their online presence.
From 15 July 2025, Chinese internet users could apply for what they call internet ID numbers and internet ID certificates. The state demands users present valid identification (including, for many, facial recognition) and register via an official Communist Party app. It seems that the Chinese have created a government-run digital ID system that will enable it to even more closely censor and spy on the country’s 1 billion internet users.
While it is currently voluntary, experts express concern that it may not stay that way – or that it will become so universally mandated that it would be rendered effectively compulsory. This would lead to decreased anonymity, increased centralised monitoring capability and elevated risks of overreach.
The registration procedure to obtain the internet ID usually entails: Submitting a national ID or an equivalent form of identification; Associating a mobile phone number; Executing facial recognition via the state application. After receiving approval, the user is granted a unique digital ID along with a certificate. When signing into participating applications, the user can use this credential instead of having to enter their full identity multiple times.
And just like Starmer’s ‘digital IDs will help stop the boats’ bollocks, the Chinese have defended their policy, citing data privacy reasons, asserting that the ID will enhance the protection of individuals’ sensitive information against social media corporations, data breaches, and fraudsters.
China’s digital ID rollout is more than a domestic policy – it may become a blueprint for how large states handle identity, data consolidation and governance of digital societies. Some analysts suggest other governments are already looking at China’s experience when designing their own digital-ID systems.
It is not hard to imagine that in some dark corner of Downing Street, a group of Labour apparatchiks will be beavering away on the next stage of the digital ID rollout. The Internet Safety Bill made it compulsory for service providers to check the age of users trying to access their services, with failure to comply leading to multi-million pound penalties. How long before they spin the idea of using a digital certificate to access online shopping and services?
Just think of the benefits. No need to remember all those pesky passwords. Pay for your online shopping via your digital ID (which will also be connected to your bank account). Easy Peasy. No doubt Tony Blair and his entrepreneurial son Euan would be strongly in favour. Just hope the hackers never get access.
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