The UK Government launches Digital Identity consultation

The UK Government launches call for evidence seeking views on how to improve the way people and organisations can digitally verify identities.

A call for evidence will explore the role of the government and the private sector in the development of digital identities. The proposal, which includes the potential for individuals to reuse previously verified identities in different sectors and services could be a step towards expanding Verify beyond the public sector.

In a press release New plans to make it safer for people to confirm their identity online the article calls out benefits to buying age-restricted goods or to make it easier to register at a new GP surgery. HMG claim unlocking the value of digital identity could add 3 per cent to UK GDP by 2030 – positioning the country as a world-leading place to develop cutting-edge innovation.

The government document checking service, currently available only to public services organisations will be made available for a small trial. Identity providers as part of the Gov.UK Verify scheme will be permitted to use the service outside of the public sector. The document checking service is crucial to the schemes provided by Verify IDPs, a blocker to taking a similar service to the commercial sector. The document checking service provides a simple yes/no status based on the information provided. The pilot scheme will also test whether there is a market for these types of document checking services.

The consultation itself was opened on 19th July 2019 and closes 15th September 2019.