Digital ID debate not available for public viewing was simply a 'mistake' say Government
The UK government has finally acknowledged that the YouTube video of the debate was set to “unlisted,” making it nearly impossible for the general public to view it.
In a surprising admission, the UK government has acknowledged an error in how a key parliamentary debate on digital ID was handled on YouTube. This comes after public outcry over the video being set to “unlisted,” making it difficult for the general public to discover and watch.
Background on the Digital ID Petition and Debate
Earlier in December 2025, Parliament held a debate in response to an online petition opposing the introduction of digital identification systems in the UK. The petition garnered nearly 200,000 signatures and one of the most signed in recent British history showing the strength of opposition from the public, triggering the mandatory debate.
These debates are routinely live streamed on the official UK Parliament YouTube channel and made publicly searchable. However, this particular debate (lasting 3-4 hours) was uploaded as ‘unlisted’. This meant it couldn’t appear in YouTube search results or recommendations; viewers could only access it via a direct link or by digging through playlists on the Parliament website.
During the debate itself, the Labour government faced significant criticism even from some within their own party, over the proposed digital ID framework. Many speakers highlighted privacy concerns and potential overreach, turning the session into a total embarrassment for the government.
The “Administrative Error” Explanation
Following widespread attention (including videos from creators and numerous Freedom of Information requests from the public), the government provided an official response.
According to the Petitions Committee, which handles uploading these debates:
“By default, these debates are meant to be published and accessible to all when uploaded. In this instance, however, due to an administrative error, these debates were accidentally uploaded as unlisted.”
The response thanked concerned citizens for flagging the issue and confirmed that the video’s status has since been corrected to “public.” The debate is now fully searchable and appearing in YouTube’s algorithm.
Skepticism Remains
While the government attributes this to a simple mistake we are doubtful. Given the humiliating nature of the debate for the ruling party and the unprecedented “error” on such a high-profile petition, questions linger about whether this was truly accidental or an attempt to limit public visibility. We have all seen over the last 18 months how much this governement gaslight and lie to the public so we dont believe it.
Notably, even while unlisted, a significant number of people sought out and viewed the debate, demonstrating strong public interest in the topic.
Why This Matters
With ongoing discussions around the Online Safety Act, digital privacy, and potential digital ID implementation, transparency in parliamentary proceedings is crucial. This incident highlights the importance of public vigilance in holding government processes accountable.
If you’re concerned about digital privacy, consider tools like VPNs to protect your online activity. The full debate is now publicly available on the UK Parliament YouTube channel worth watching to hear the arguments firsthand.