The government’s digital ID plans have taken another step forward, with ministers confirming the creation of a 120-member “People’s Panel” to help shape the future of the scheme.
The panel will bring together people from across the UK to discuss how digital identity should work and what safeguards should be built into the system. Its findings will sit alongside responses to the government’s recent digital ID consultation and help inform future legislation.
It’s a significant development.
After widespread criticism of earlier proposals for mandatory digital ID, the government has repositioned the scheme as voluntary and focused primarily on improving access to public services, rather than centring the debate on immigration enforcement.
But while the policy has evolved, many of the questions that prompted public concern in the first place remain unanswered.
Trust remains the biggest challenge
Government officials have said the future system should be “trusted, useful and inclusive”.
Those ambitions are difficult to argue with. But trust cannot simply be designed into a system. It has to be earned.
The consultation process has highlighted concerns around privacy, governance, inclusion and interoperability. Questions also remain about exactly how digital identity information will be stored, who will have access to it, and what role private-sector providers will play in the future.
Even government representatives involved in the project have acknowledged that some of those details have yet to be finalised. For many people, that uncertainty matters.
After years of major cyber incidents and data breaches affecting organisations across the public and private sectors, confidence in the handling of sensitive personal information has been weakened.
When people are asked to place even more identity data into digital systems, they understandably want clear answers about security and accountability.
Experts are calling for stronger safeguards
The Open Data Institute, which has been closely involved in discussions around digital identity, says any future system should prioritise privacy, security and user control. It has also warned that poorly designed digital identity systems could create long-term harms that are difficult to reverse.
The organisation argues that people want convenience without surveillance, digital services without losing alternative routes, and greater transparency about how their information is used.
Those concerns closely mirror what we continue to hear from consumers.
Why we're backing stronger protections
At Join the Claim, we believe public confidence must be prioritised.
Personal data is increasingly being used across work, public services and online platforms. While data protection laws like GDPR are meant to keep this information safe, repeated breaches and failures show that digital identity data is still not being taken seriously enough in practice.
People are increasingly demanding that organisations live up to their responsibilities, not just cite compliance on paper.
That’s why we’re calling on every organisation that uses digital identity data — public or private — to back our five-point Digital ID pledge.
The pledge demands:
- Full transparency over where data is stored
- Immediate and full disclosure of any breach attempts
- Independent annual audits of system security and resilience
- Strict limits on data sharing, including a total ban on commercial profiling
- Clear accountability for any organisation handling Digital ID data.
These are not radical demands. They are the basic safeguards needed to build trust in any system that asks people to share some of their most sensitive personal information.
The government has indicated that digital ID legislation could be introduced after the summer, subject to parliamentary time. It has also said it wants the system to be fully rolled out by the end of 2029. So, it is clear that digital identity remains firmly on the government’s agenda.
To stand with us and call for tougher protections, share your support using #ProtectOurDigitalID.
Has your digital data been breached?
If your online data has been exposed because an organisation failed to implement basic protections, you have legal rights. Explore current data breach claims and wider consumer actions on our website, and register your interest if you believe you have been affected.
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