‘Concerning erosion of privacy!' Keir Starmer’s Digital ID scheme SLAMMED by Donald Trump’s free speech tsar

The Under-Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy also took aim at Sir Keir Starmer’s government for “prosecuting footballers for tweets”, a reference to Joey Barton being convicted for "grossly offensive" posts about broadcaster Jeremy Vine, as well as ex-footballers Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

Relations between Number 10 and the Oval Office are under strain after a proposed US-UK technology deal was suspended, with Mr Trump seeking improved terms on December 16, the same day he also announced a $5billion (£3.7billion) lawsuit over a BBC edit of his January 6 speech.

Tensions have increased further by Mr Trump’s repeated attacks on London mayor Sadiq Khan, forcing the Prime Minister to walk a tightrope between defending a party ally and preserving fragile transatlantic Atlantic ties.

Speaking exclusively to GB News, Ms Rogers said: "A national Digital ID raises privacy concerns in light of data breaches in other countries, like India, that have tried one. Given that this would apply to American citizens working in the UK, we are concerned about privacy erosion, function creep, and potential abuse.”

The Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, who oversees the State Department's Digital Freedom initiatives, fumed: “Especially by a government that prosecutes footballers for tweets."

According to the Association of American Residents Overseas (AARO), more than 325,000 Americans are estimated to live and work in the UK, making it the second most popular destination after Mexico and Canada.

More than 6,100 US nationals applied for British citizenship in 2025, the highest figure since records began and an increase of 26 per cent compared with 2023.

Many applicants living in the UK are using skilled worker and long-term work visas.

In response, Shadow National Security Minister, Alicia Kearns, said: “The introduction of Digital IDs will fundamentally change the relationship between the state and its citizens. Whether it be China or India, we have seen how states exploit ID cards, and I will not see our freedoms restricted by an Orwellian control mechanism.

"Opening up our system to potential access by hostile foreign nations not only poses a significant threat to British privacy, but also to dual nationals and those working in the UK on visas. Centralising our data in this way creates a honeypot for state-threat actors and cyber criminals, putting the data of millions at unprecedented risk of data breaches, and above all posing a deeply concerning threat to national security globally.”

Meanwhile, former Conservative party leader, Sir Iain Duncan-Smith MP, branded digital IDs “An unnecessary security risk that won’t solve the small boats crisis or end illegal working, however it will create real problems for Americans and others working here".

The UK has previously suffered serious data and hacking breaches, with cyber experts warning that the introduction of a Brit Card could see cases of hacking increase.

Ministry of Defence contractor Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL) experienced a leak of 227,000 sensitive payroll documents of current and former military personnel this year, sparking national security concerns, while Transport for London (TFL) and the Electoral Commission were also targeted by hackers.

Campaigner Alan Miller, from the group Together, told the People's Channel: "We are constantly under assault from hackers, criminals & military cyber security threats."“From the enormous Marks & Spencer hack to Heathrow being grounded, the Horizon IT Scandal and people being imprisoned, there is a constant set of extremely worrying examples of why this is such a problem.”

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We’ve all been shopping and banking online for years, and many other countries already have successful schemes. Our new scheme will be inclusive, secure, and useful. It will give people more control over their data than they have now, and make public services easier to access and serve everyone better across the country."