OIX Urges UK to Let Private Sector Handle Its Own Digital IDs

The Open Identity Exchange (OIX) has strongly advised the UK Government against extending the One Login service to the private sector for digital identity purposes. In a letter to Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, OIX emphasized the necessity for a cohesive long-term strategy to evolve the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF).

The DIATF is seen as a strong foundation, but OIX stressed that a long-term, coherent government plan was essential for establishing digital trust and positioning the UK as a leader in digital infrastructure. Digital IDs are described as crucial for verifying identities and eligibility across various use cases, offering secure and instant access to services both online and face-to-face.

OIX argues that Digital IDs could significantly benefit the UK economy, with McKinsey estimating potential gains equivalent to 3 percent to 13 percent of GDP by 2030 for countries like the UK. The benefits extend beyond GDP, enhancing inclusion, fraud prevention, and data privacy for individuals, businesses, and government services. The letter notes that the UK is already experiencing these advantages in areas such as right-to-work and right-to-rent checks, with substantial time savings reported by employers.

To advance the current Digital ID strategy, OIX proposes several actions. The group advocates for the evolution of DIATF to include a digital wallet strategy, leveraging the increasing use of digital wallets globally. The letter suggests that the government should support the private sector in creating and issuing digital credentials, ensuring that common proof of identity documents had digital equivalents with the same legal status.

Regulatory barriers should be removed to facilitate the acceptance of digital IDs and credentials, and interoperability with European Union Digital Identity (EUDI) wallets should be ensured to protect data privacy.

OIX also highlights the need for the government to take a clear stance on the role of public versus private sector digital IDs. The group argues against using GOV.UK One Login for private sector services, instead recommending that it be used to create private sector digital IDs under DIATF, aiding inclusion.

Additionally, OIX calls for government support for cross-border interoperability of digital wallets, which would have enhanced the UK’s global technological standing, attracted international partnerships, and boosted trade relations.

“In summary, the current UK DIATF is an excellent start but needs to evolve further and at a faster pace to embrace growing use of digital wallets and prepare for international interoperability,” the letter concludes.

Sources: UKAuthority, OIX

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July 25, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy