July 2026
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This conference examined 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 considered the regulatory, commercial, and governance arrangements that may be required for their deployment at scale.
It took place in the context of the ongoing consultation published by the Cabinet Office in March 2026, and recent announcement of a Digital Access to Services Bill in the King’s Speech, which will establish the legal framework for the Government to create, issue and use digital ID. Implementation of the Digital Verification Services provisions in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 was also discussed, including certification against the trust framework and the role of the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes in supporting adoption.
Overall, the conference brought 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 expected 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 considered 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 were examined, as well as key considerations for establishing consistent data-sharing across DVS providers. We expected 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 were also discussed with expected introduction of a Digital Access to Services Bill to Parliament, 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 assessed 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 were also discussed.
Commercialisation & market development
Steps needed to move from early-stage deployment to wider adoption across industry and public services were 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 considered 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 were discussed, including how strategic approaches to procurement and investment might stimulate demand, and priorities for supporting a competitive ecosystem.
Accountability, safeguards & digital inclusion
Sessions brought 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 were 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 were examined, in supporting adoption across different use cases.
Delegates also assessed 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. What is needed for implementation of the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan was discussed, looking at accessibility requirements, addressing digital skills gaps, and ensuring continued provision of equitable access to public services.
As well as key stakeholders those attending included parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and 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; HM Treasury; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; Ofcom; Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology; 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; Ofcom; Isle of Man Government; Home Office; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
