Government consults on draft identity verification legislation
The Cabinet Office is currently consulting on draft legislation aimed at facilitating data sharing between specified public authorities to support the delivery of identity verification services.
The government says that the proposed Identity Verification Regulations supplement the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA) to enable data sharing between government departments. Currently, the public authorities that may disclose information are listed in the DEA but may be amended by regulations.
The proposal would add new objectives for which data may be shared, and four new public authorities to the schedule of authorities, namely
- The Cabinet Office
- Department for Transport
- Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
- The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
The government is developing a digital identity verification service (GOV.UK One Login) which will allow people to create and reuse digital identities to access public services. The new data sharing powers would deliver citizen-centric public services that are fit for the digital age, the government says.
The government is separately legislating on the use of trusted digital identities in the draft Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.