Digital Identity is a technology that is said to further reinforce public safety while giving citizens the stewardship of managing their self-sovereignty.

The United Kingdom is charting the next step for its national use of digital identity to reinforce the individual’s irrevocable identity while giving the citizens the means to instantly verify their identity claims through a seamless fashion.

Heeding the call of parties such as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport alongside the Cabinet Office, the government will lay the groundwork for its digital identity framework by introducing a set of fundamental laws on legislation, registry, and expand the applicable use of the technology where it may lead to economic or social growth:

• Consumer rights around digital identity to be strengthened to enable wider use across the country
• Reports show the digital identity market could add 3 per cent to UK GDP by 2030.

As people are thoroughly required to prove their identity for the safe consumption of media and have access to social services. Issues are also being raised about the inclusion of people who have no means to a legal identity and are therefore, unable to obtain valuable assistance in the form of social grants and basic financial services.

The six principles outlined by the UK government are:

1) Privacy – When personal data is accessed people will have confidence that there are measures in place to ensure their confidentiality and privacy; for instance, a supermarket checking a shopper’s age, a lawyer overseeing the sale of a house or someone applying to take out a loan.

2) Transparency – When an individual’s identity data is accessed when using digital identity products they must be able to understand by who, why and when; for example, being able to see how your bank uses your data through digital identity solutions.

3) Inclusivity – People who want or need a digital identity should be able to obtain one; for example, not having documentation such as a passport or driving licence should not be a barrier to not having a digital identity.

4) Interoperability – Setting technical and operating standards for use across the UK’s economy to enable international and domestic interoperability.

5) Proportionality – User needs and other considerations such as privacy and security will be balanced so digital identity can be used with confidence across the economy.

6) Good governance – Digital identity standards will be linked to government policy and law. Any future regulation will be clear, coherent and align with the government’s wider strategic approach to digital regulation. For example, firms verifying your identity will need to comply with laws around how they access and store data.