Energised Into Action Folling The Excellent Recent Comment Piece from Computer Weekly's EditorI thought I'D Dig Deeper into what exactly is going on right now with the government and its plans for digital identity.
Readers will be well aware – we are beyond a pressing need for a trusted and effectively delivered system of distributed digital id and digital verification. Despite some, Slow, Progress, The Current, Continuing Lack of Clarity is concerning. All of Us need to know – What's the plan, how will it be implemented and what are the implications and, indeed, Opportunities?
Many of us have been at this for some time. I have raised the issue, through amendments to Several Pies of Legislation, Not Least the Financial Services Bill 2021 and Financial Services and Markets Bill 2023. State, Within Six Months of the Passage of the Bill, to Publish the Government's Plans for the Development and Deployment of a Distributed Digital Identification for Individuals and Corporate Entities “.
My Amendments also specified the need for public engine and that systems must be scalable, flexible and inclusive. The then Government did not accept my amendments.
Trust Framework
There has been some programS SIS SISE Interventions. The department for science, innovation and technology (dsit) launched the office for digital identifies and attributes (ofdia) in October last year to oversee the digital identifies (Diatf).
The diatf certifies Private Sector Service Providers. According to the latest update published on 7 April 2025 there are 58 Organizations capable of providing digital verification for right to work, right to Rent and Background Check
In a significant step forward the data use and access bill, currently making its way through parliament, will put digital verification services on a statutory Footing.
Whilst Progressing The Diatf, The Government Simultaneously worked on Gov.uk One Login, The Single Sign- In Service Providing a Single Account for Citizens to Log in, ProveVe Identity and Access Center Government services. As far as the digital id market was concerned one login was complete separate from digital id and age verification services.
Recent Government Announcements about the introduction of a Gov.uk Digital Wallet And app, and confirming the launch of digital driver's licenses – a “Mobile Driver's License“Or MDL – and Digitised Veteran Cards, Make this Public/Private Sparation a Lot Less Clear, Not Least as the Government Specifically Sugged Age when buying, for example, a beer.
Is digital id moving from a positive development competitive market to a state play?
A collaborative approach
If the government is moving away from the collaborative approach, BOCCEMING An Active Participant Provisioning Digital id for access across its servicesAnd hence a competitor to the Thriving Private Sector Developing Across the market, then it must be clear on this.
AlongSide That Clarity, We Need to see a transparent business plan. How much taxpayer funds are going to this “new” direction and what is the government's assessment on the level of “Crowding out”?
Most of us would accept that public sector is the preserve of one login. It is the only system, currently, that allows access to online public services including applying Among other,
The Potential Problem Thought Emerges If its Status and Uses are promoted beyond this. In December 2024 One login was certified under the diatf, immediatily enabling it to compete directly with that that these private diatf Certified Identity Provides. One login can clear now be deployed to prove age or eligibility in a variety of private sector contexts.
Added to this, is there a move by the government for us taxpayers to put out from our wallets, millions of pounds to fund its digital Wallet for use cashes it would also By Private Sector Diatf-CERTUDIED Companies?
At a time when trust and confidence are Crucial in Relation to digital id, is it sensible to blur the lines between commercial frameworks
Mandating Digital ID
There also also appears to be an increase mood, not least Among Labor MPS, For Mandating a System of Digital IdEvidensed by the letter to numerous government departments from 42 of their number. I'm not certain many would see this as the most effective means of gaining public support and the required trust if we are to make the success, as we must.
A Secure, Verified, Distributed Digital ID BE Transformational, Whether We Are Thinking About Fraud, Convenience for Citizens, Efficiency for Businesses and GOLOVED Economic Growth – but there must be Trust in the system. A dsit survey found that Although people want verifiable identityAccountability and transparency are essential.
The challenges are significant. It is unplear whether the public trust the government not to misuse data, eater intent or due to data breeds, as well as undertandable fears of further fears of forthr The accursed digital divide.
The approach matters. We need strong privacy protections, voluntary use, robust security, accountability, accessibility and broad public trust.
Such Trust, Be You Citizen or Company seeking to build in this digital id space, can only come through meaningful engine on an ongoing basis.
If the public feel excluded, if digital ID company is the government is lining up to directly compes with them, then trust, that most critical of elements, is not expected optimized. If we end up at the avoidable position of no public trust, well – no trust, no take up.
Effective Digital Id, Principles-Based, Distributed Not Centralized, Is Essential If Individuals, Business, Communities, Communities and Countries are to realize the opoportunities and be PROM the HARMS So many technologies now in our hands.
It's a journey, underway but yet incidence; A journey we all must be part of – the discussion, the design, and the deployment.