TO BE PUBLISHED July 2026
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This conference will examine the future for digital identities in the UK. With heightened public and political discussion on the potential scope and use of digital ID services, the agenda considers the regulatory, commercial, and governance arrangements that may be required for their deployment at scale.
It takes place in the context of the ongoing consultation published by the Cabinet Office in March 2026, with the Government’s national digital ID scheme having been scaled down from initial plans of a mandatory system. Implementation of the Digital Verification Services provisions in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 will also be discussed, including certification against the trust framework and the role of the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes in supporting adoption.
Overall, the conference will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess options for the design of the digital ID scheme, including the proposed approach to basing the system on Gov.uk One Login and Gov.uk Wallet. We also expect discussion to reflect issues raised by stakeholders around ecosystem fragmentation and interoperability between private and public sector systems, questions around operational burden on employers, and concerns relating to surveillance and accountability.
Regulation & governance
Delegates will consider immediate priorities for organisations and accreditors in achieving a smooth transition to certification against the final digital verification services trust framework, which was pre-released by OfDIA in March 2026. The application and oversight of the UK CertifID trust mark will be examined, as well as key considerations for establishing consistent data-sharing across DVS providers. We expect discussion on how regulatory responsibilities might evolve as the market matures, including coordination between government departments, interoperability with the EU’s eIDAS 2.0 regulation, and options for a governance model that could provide a common set of standards for both public and private sector digital ID services.
Governance models for a national digital ID scheme will also be discussed, including the way forward for transparent safeguards and independent oversight, along with wider regulatory expectations as the development and rollout phases of the national scheme progress. Delegates will assess approaches to taking forward the integration of digital ID into public services, questions around introducing a single unique identifier, and implications of the Government’s intention to build the system in-house. Key practical considerations for data protection, trust, and mitigating risk will also be discussed.
Commercialisation & market development
Steps needed to move from early-stage deployment to wider adoption across industry and public services will be discussed, looking at addressing operational challenges for employers, service providers, or public bodies in the event of future widespread voluntary uptake of digital ID.
Attendees will consider how the digital ID market can scale up in a way that supports innovation while maintaining public trust, including options for supporting smaller companies to enter the market, such as proportionate certification pathways and clearer commercial models for digital verification services.
Opportunities across sectors such as financial services, retail, property, travel, healthcare, and age‑restricted goods will be discussed, including how strategic approaches to procurement and investment might stimulate demand, and priorities for supporting a competitive ecosystem.
Accountability, safeguards & digital inclusion
Sessions will bring out latest thinking on legal and ethical issues, with some stakeholders raising concerns over surveillance, data privacy, the use of biometric data, and implications of potential misuse. Strategic approaches to building public trust will be examined, including in response to views from the proposed People’s Panel on digital ID. Strategies and effective practice for transparency, communication, and community engagement will be examined, in supporting adoption across different use cases.
Delegates will also assess priorities for tackling digital inequalities and unlocking potential benefits of digital ID across society in areas including streamlined access to public services, and increased efficiency in administrative and verification processes to support consumer outcomes. Priorities for implementation of the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan will be discussed, looking at accessibility requirements, addressing digital skills gaps, and ensuring continued provision of equitable access to public services.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for Business and Trade; Department of Health and Social Care; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Education; Department for Communities, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; Ofcom; National Audit Office; Intellectual Property Office; Information Commissioner’s Office; Office for National Statistics; Ofcom; Government Legal Department; HM Revenue and Customs; Health and Safety Executive; Home Office; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
