TO BE PUBLISHED July 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for digital identities in the UK. The planned agenda will focus on the regulatory, commercial, and governance arrangements that may be needed to support the deployment of digital identity services at scale - as government departments and regulators begin to implement the Digital Verification Services provisions in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, and with the proposed consultation on a voluntary national digital identity scheme announced by the Cabinet Office in September 2025.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities following the staged commencement of the Act’s digital verification service measures, the role of the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes n certification and adoption, and the policy choices that remain in discussion as proposals for a national scheme are developed.
Regulatory & governance landscape
Delegates will consider current priorities as the statutory footing for the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework and related measures is implemented, including what will be needed for effective oversight and market confidence. We expect discussion on how regulatory responsibilities might evolve as the market matures, including cross-department alignment and options for a governance model that could support both public and private sector digital identity services.
Adoption and certification of digital identity providers against the Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework will also be discussed, including proportionality of assurance requirements, clarity of liability allocation, and options for longer-term oversight as digital identity services become more widely used across sectors.
Commercialisation & market development
Further discussion is expected on practical steps needed to move from early-stage deployment to wider adoption across industry and public services, and on what may be needed to ensure that voluntary uptake does not create operational burdens for employers, service providers, or public bodies. Attendees will consider how the digital identity market can scale in a way that supports innovation while maintaining public trust, including what may help smaller companies enter the market, such as proportionate certification pathways and clearer commercial models for digital verification services.
Accountability, safeguards & public trust
Sessions will bring out latest thinking on legal and ethical issues, with civil liberties groups raising concerns over surveillance, data privacy, the use of biometric data, and potential misuse. Strategic approaches to building public trust will be examined, with discussion on how transparency, communication, and community engagement might best support adoption across different use cases.
Delegates will also assess approaches to supporting digital inclusion, and how proposals for a digital identity scheme might interact with the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, in the context of accessibility requirements, digital skills gaps, and ensuring equitable access to public services.
Overview of areas for discussion
- regulation:
- implementation of DUAA provisions and OfDIA’s governance role - streamlining certification, oversight and assurance
- alignment between DSIT, Cabinet Office and Home Office - clarifying responsibilities for public sector and enforcement‑related use cases
- commercialisation and use cases:
- moving from early pilots to routine adoption - interoperability between public and private sector digital identity services
- proportionality of assurance and verification requirements - balancing security with usability and cost
- supporting SMEs - reducing barriers to entry and enabling scalable commercial models
- trust framework and assurance:
- evolution of the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework - ensuring clarity, predictability and cross‑sector applicability
- interoperability with international standards - alignment with EU eIDAS 2.0, global assurance models and bilateral recognition
- liability and redress - apportioning responsibility between operators, attribute providers, relying parties and government
- public services integration:
- interaction with GOV.UK One Login and sector‑specific identity systems - NHS login, local authority services and welfare delivery
- operational readiness - resource requirements for public bodies and service providers
- privacy, security and safeguards:
- cybersecurity expectations for digital identity providers - resilience, data integrity and secure credential management
- facial recognition and biometric governance - legal constraints, oversight and proportionality
- preventing discrimination and bias - ensuring equitable outcomes for underrepresented groups
- market development:
- scaling digital verification services - opportunities in financial services, retail, travel, health and age‑restricted goods
- implications of the shift from mandatory to voluntary digital identity for employers - managing compliance and operational burden
- investment and procurement barriers - enabling sustainable commercial models and supporting UK‑based innovation
- public confidence:
- strategic communication and transparency - addressing concerns about surveillance, data breaches and future misuse
- public trust and community engagement - approaches for different operational settings and user groups
