Thank you for contacting me about digital identity verification and for sharing your concerns.
I understand that the Government is developing a voluntary digital identity verification service which will give people the option to create and reuse digital identities. This system was put forward with the intention to not infringe on people's freedoms; it will not be compulsory and does not include any proposal to create either a digital or physical ID card.
Known as GOV.UK One Login, the idea of the service is to make it easier for people to find and access government services, allow users to prove their identity online, protect the privacy of users, and reduces identity fraud and theft. It also enables public bodies to share a wider range of specified data than is currently possible. This further benefits individuals and households by improving digital inclusion and reducing the burden on individuals of providing the same information to different public authorities many times.
To successfully deliver this service, participating public authorities will need to be able to check and share several types of government-held personal data with the identity verification service to allow users to prove who they say they are. I believe that it is critical that all data sharing is compliant with existing data protection legislation and that guidance is published by the Information Commissioner’s Office to maintain trust in the system.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me, I will follow this closely.
