A new plan to introduce legislation to make digital IDs more trusted and secure has been unveiled by the UK government.

The Government will establish a new Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (ODIA) within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as an interim governing body for digital identities.

Under the legislation, the ODIA will have the power to issue an easily recognised trustmark to certified digital identity organisations. This will help prove they meet the security and privacy standards needed to handle people’s data in a safe and consistent way.

People and businesses will be able to decide what digital identity technology works for them to prove their identity, should they choose to create a digital identity at all.

This could see people share personal information, such as their name and date of birth, with a trusted organisation to create a digital identity. This can be used instead of revealing physical documents in situations such as proving the owner is over 18, applying for jobs or buying a house.

The ODIA will ensure trust-marked organisations adhere to the highest standards of security and privacy.

According to the Government, the move will make it easier to verify people’s identity using digital methods instead of having to rely on traditional physical documents.

In addition, digital identities can also help tackle fraud, which hit record highs with an estimated five million cases in the year ending September 2021, by reducing the amount of personal data shared online and making it harder for fraudsters to obtain and use stolen identities.

Data Minister Julia Lopez said: “This government is committed to unlocking the power of data to benefit people across the UK.

“The legislation we’re proposing will ensure that there are trusted and secure ways for people and organisations to use digital identities, should they choose to.”

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With a public consultation now complete, the Government will bring forward the necessary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

The rules will establish the accreditation and certification process so UK organisations can clearly prove they meet security and privacy standards needed to use digital IDs.

It will also create a legal gateway to allow trusted organisations to carry out verification checks against official data held by public bodies to help validate a person’s identity.

The rules will confirm the legal validity of digital forms of identification are equal to physical forms of identification, such as physical passports

Finally, it will ensure that digital identities are not compulsory and people will still be able to use available paper documentation.

Heather Wheeler MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, said: “The government is delivering a number of ambitious and interlinked policy initiatives to prepare the UK for the digital world, and to improve the lives of businesses and citizens.

“These initiatives, alongside enabling legislation, will help ensure the UK is able to take full advantage of the opportunities that digital identities and the wider digital economy have to offer.”

In advance of the proposed legislation, landlords, letting agents and employers will be able to use certified new technology to carry out the right to work and the right to rent checks online from the 6th of April, 2022 and prove their eligibility to work or rent more easily.

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