AlisonW ♿🏳️‍🌈♾️Sep 25, 2025

ID cards are bad. Very bad.

1. Once they exist it will become necessary to always carry it. If you don't you must have something to hide, etc.
2. They can't stop people working in the 'black economy' because people currently employing those working for cash don't care.
3. It is another attack on trans and NB people (very unlikely someone would be allowed to have multiple IDs)
4. Massive data loss of personal information is highly likely.
5. Who pays? Why should they?
6. Police state becomes more likely with having your ID inspected whenever a copper wants to harass someone, especially POC.
7. OTHER OPTIONS ALREADY EXIST!

ID cards are a very bad, very dangerous, very expensive, and very risky idea.

ps I'm not a 'Brit'. I'm British, or more specifically English!
#IDcards #PoliceStateUK #BritCard

Show threadEdzillaSep 25, 2025
@AlisonW
I'm curious, as a Belgian with a mandatory ID card (and French, same situation), it's never felt like such a huge issue.
You can get your gender changed fairly easily and it is reflected on the ID card. and it makes identifying with online government services much easier. (think taxes, unemployment benefits, etc)
It has zero impact on taxes avoidance or anything like that but at least in Belgium it was never meant to so that's ok.
Show threadCFySep 25, 2025

@edzilla @AlisonW

Same curiosity from a German perspective here - it is not mandatory to carry the ID card, but easy to do and good if you need proof of ID or proof of address (e.g. picking up a parcel, opening an account...)
Having lived in the UK for many years, I know that the driving licence is used there for the same purpose, but I find it discriminatory against people who don't have one. Never understood why the British are so against IDs.

Show threadCFySep 25, 2025
@edzilla @AlisonW
Also just checked: the German ID card doesn't specify gender - so why would you need multiple if you're trans / NB?
Show threadAlisonW ♿🏳️‍🌈♾️Sep 25, 2025
@cfy @edzilla
On that specific point, trans people don't tend to tell everyone all at once. They transition over a period of time. If you present differently at work and socially what happens when you get stopped and asked for ID?
Show threadCFySep 25, 2025

@AlisonW @edzilla

I guess exactly the same as in any other country without ID, when you have to show your driving licence or your passport.
What happens if trans people need to show proof of age when buying alcohol or going to a club?
I don't think an ID will improve any of those situations, but doesn't make them worse either IMHO.
Frequency and occasions of "Getting stopped and asked for ID" depends on laws and policing regs - not on existence of ID or not.

Show threadAlisonW ♿🏳️‍🌈♾️
@cfy @edzilla
No age proof needed for alcohol or clubbing.
Sep 25, 2025 at 7:46pmWeb
Show threadCFySep 25, 2025

@AlisonW @edzilla

Is that for you individually because you look old enough? I thought you're talking about UK/England where you absolutely can not buy alcohol under the age of 18.

Show threadAlisonW ♿🏳️‍🌈♾️Sep 25, 2025
@cfy @edzilla
*Allegedly*. The minimum age has always existed but I've rarely seen it applied (aka 'not'). Like purchasing cigarettes the theory and the practice are inconsistent. ymmv etc.
Show threadBraggSep 28, 2025

@AlisonW @cfy @edzilla I’m in my 30’s & got asked for ID just last week, in my 20’s I started paying for most stuff using Apple Pay but if I was going out for a drink or to buy alcohol I knew it was the only time I needed to take my wallet as there was a decent chance I’d get asked for ID. In my late 20’s I’d still get ID’d going into bars, at pubs & also remember it happening in a restaurant having a meal with my parents. A couple of years ago to pick up a 12 rated game from Argos I had to show an expired 25-30 (that I was too old to renew) before they’d hand over the game as they ridiculously have a challenge 25 policy on any age restricted item even when it’s double the original age.

Sorry that last bit almost went into a rant about how stupid Argos are.

Show threadAlisonW ♿🏳️‍🌈♾️Sep 28, 2025
@JMBragg @cfy @edzilla
Back in the late 70s a friend who was 40 would occasionally get asked for proof of age. She was very short 🙁