The government is set to ask 100 “randomly selected” people from across Britain to help shape plans for a national digital ID system as ministers attempt to tackle growing public distrust around the proposal.

The citizens’ panel will form part of a wider consultation expected to be announced by Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister. Participants will reportedly meet over several weekends, hear evidence from experts and officials, and debate the potential benefits and risks of digital IDs before making recommendations to ministers.

The move comes as the government faces mounting concern over digital identity technology, with critics warning about privacy, surveillance, cybersecurity and the possibility of the system eventually becoming compulsory.

Digital ID was recently unveiled in the King’s Speech despite its widespread unpopularity, prompting outrage from civil rights organisations.

A statement published by Big Brother Watch said: “Access to public services we all pay for should never require a digital ID. This would inevitably be an intrusive, multi billion pound system no one wants, no one voted for, and that has no real purpose. Plans so far have indicated that the digital ID would be a cradle to grave system ripe for mass surveillance and more government control over people’s lives.

“Committing to a national digital ID system in the King’s Speech when the polls show the public don’t want one is utterly tone deaf.

“The Government has already failed to impose a mandatory digital ID system on the public and should now drop this terrible plan altogether before more taxpayers’ money is squandered on it.”

Earlier proposals to require digital IDs for right-to-work checks sparked political backlash, prompting ministers to scale back some elements of the scheme. The government has since stressed that the rollout would initially be limited and voluntary.

The government claims that digital IDs could first be used for services such as vehicle tax payments and optional employment checks before the end of the current parliament. More extensive uses are not expected until later years.

Ministers say the system is designed to modernise public services and make it easier for people to verify their identity online. They have also insisted there will not be a single centralised database holding everyone’s personal information.

The wider consultation is expected to run for eight weeks as the government seeks public feedback on how the technology should operate and what safeguards should be introduced.

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