Edit: Although announced as mandatory, apparently you don't need to carry it in public and it's for work and housing checks. Thank you for some great answers.
I am from the UK which is set to introduce mandatory ID cards… something which Europe already mostly has but is unpopular in the UK. People fear it being used for surveillance so i thought I'd ask, what is actually done with it and have there been any serious proposals to use it for surveillance?
I know police can check your papers, but people suggest ID will end up being checked everywhere: for street checkpoints, being required to enter supermarkets and purchase groceries and basic things, and for taking short journeys on public transport, etc.
I believe China already does some of that,but in Europe is that all exaggeration or has there ever been serious talk of doing things like that?