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Pilot to be launched to help organisations check people’s
identity for services such as loan or credit card
applications
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Plans could add 3 per cent to UK GDP by 2030, helping the
digital economy continue its huge growth
New proposals to make the process of identity checking online
easier and more secure for people and businesses have been
launched.
A new call for
evidence will explore the role of government and the
private sector in the development of digital identities - the way
people prove they are who they say they are using digital
technology - and seek views on how to achieve higher levels of
trust between the public and organisations checking their
identities.
The proposals also include the potential for individuals to reuse
previously verified identities in different sectors and services.
For example, allowing them to reuse the identity created to
access a government service, such as filing your self assessment
tax return, when applying for a loan, rather than having to prove
their identity in a different way.
With people increasingly required to prove their identity to
access services, whether it is to buy age-restricted items on and
offline or make it easier to register at a new GP surgery, these
plans aim to help make doing so easier and more secure.
By cutting down on the need for physical documents, which could
be misplaced or stolen, they also aim to reduce fraud. Reports
suggest that 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.
Recent figures show identity fraud is a growing problem across
the UK and last year the fraud prevention service Cifas reported
189,000 incidents of identity theft.
Digital Secretary said:
We are determined to cement Britain’s place as a world-leading
digital economy by creating a regulatory environment which
works for consumers, citizens and businesses.
These new proposals could make it easier for people to prove
their identity without compromising their personal information
and for businesses to conduct checks in a safe and secure way.
This will help make sure more and more people benefit from the
huge potential of technology and can use it to shop, bank and
access Government services.
Minister for Implementation said:
We are committed to delivering a thriving digital identity
market that allows people to access more government and private
sector services online safely and securely.
Last October I announced that the GOV.UK Verify programme is
mature enough to move to the next phase of its development, in
which the private sector takes on responsibility for broadening
the usage and application of digital identity in the UK.
Allowing organisations greater flexibility to reuse identities
is an important step towards this goal.
A small pilot scheme will be launched to help people speed up
their applications for services, for example applying for a
credit card, by allowing organisations to digitally check their
identity using British passport data, where they have used this
to register for government services. It will begin with companies
who currently provide digital identity services to Government.
Individuals applying to access selected services online could
have their identity verified this way if they choose to. The
scheme will then be opened up to a small cohort of additional
private sector companies for use across a range of services.
No organisation would be given access to government-held data
under these proposals, identity providers would simply get a yes
or no as to whether the document was validly issued, and no
personal data not already provided by the individual would be
used or shared.
Any new solutions will be compliant with recently strengthened
data protection laws and set out requirements for the secure
transfer of data. There will be no central identity database and
individuals will be in control of their personal data.
The pilot scheme will also test if there is a market for these
new types of digital identity checking services.
techUK CEO David said:
In our ever increasingly digitised world, the ability to prove
identity online will be crucial for consumers and businesses
alike.
We trust today’s announcement signals the Government’s
commitment to creating a world-leading approach to digital
identity in the UK, which is safe, secure and engenders trust.
techUK is excited to work with the Digital Identity Unit to
ensure the Government can make best use of the industry’s
expertise and innovation.
We are encouraged that the proposals will explore the potential
for individuals to reuse previously verified identities and
look forward to collaborating on the pilot scheme.
techUK and our members are confident that this could reduce
fraud and increase security helping drive confidence and
prosperity for all.
