Government digital ID

[cromwell]

Here we go.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next ... evealed--2

"Once finalised, the government plans to bring the framework into law and make it easier and safer for people to use digital services to prove who they are or verify something about themselves."

[Suff]

Trust certifications for companies. Not for the people using their services. This framework will allow customers to be able to verify that the digital id being used by the company is from a certified company and, therefore, not a risk.

Yes, I know, I know, Companies first, people next. But someone has to start building a trust framework or it will remain the wild west.

[Workingman]

I don't think that the trust framework is quite the same as trust certification for business. We individuals can create one or more digital IDs at the same time. We can have one for one purpose, one for many purposes or many for multiple purposes. Or we can choose to have none at all.

I am registered online with my GP, Dentist and the NHS and if I wished I could also register with a pharmacy, an optician or a podiatrist. I could do one for each or one-for-all.

I could do the same for the likes of banks, loan companies, building societies and estate agents. So just the one could be used for different transactions with them all so long as they are all in the loop.

But just to be clear: these are not digital Identity Cards, though I do suspect that they could evolve....

This quote, however, from the "Feedback from members of the public" section did concern me.

There was a high level of repetition in the wording of many of these responses, indicating that individuals were being directed by a single source.

My bold and italic.

It sounds as though minds were made up. The responses were indications of nothing of the sort! Of course we were using similar language and that is because we have the same concerns. It was our individual concerns that were directing our thoughts and opinions not some conspiracy theory!

There are only so many ways of saying "It's raining" before repeating yourself.

[Suff]

I only quickly viewed the article, but I got the distinct impression that the certification was the foundation on which the trust framework was going to be built.

Agree with the rest completely.

[cromwell]

Well, it may be as you both say.
But when the government puts up a big DIGITAL ID logo up, I'll go with that.
Also
"The government has today published the second version of its digital identity trust framework which is part of plans to make it faster and easier for people to verify themselves using modern technology through a process as trusted as using drivers licenses or passports."

"Once finalised, the government plans to bring the framework into law and make it easier and safer for people to use digital services to prove who they are or verify something about themselves."

To me, that is a personal digital ID; and I guess we've all heard of mission creep anyway.

Lastly,
"Plans reveal how data can be shared between organisations so they run smoother and users can access services more easily "

So putting that together we have a personal digital ID which is used to access as yet unspecified services.
To me that sounds exactly like the digital ID / social credit system that the Chinese Communist party is trying to implement.

[Suff]

It all sounds good, but people have to use it. Also if UK companies want to provide services to others outside the UK, they will need alternatives.

I have already lived and worked under this. Belgium use this, tied to their ID card, for banking authentication. It did not spawn into general life nor force non Belgian citizens to get a Belgian digital ID to use services outside Banking.

Yes the government would love to pull everyone in. It does not mean it will happen. Or that it can.

[Workingman]

I can see them being useful for some people in some cases bas you can have one, many or none at all; and given that the are not compulsory it makes them factually not necessary only a convenience.

However, with that convenience comes danger. Some will use just the one for everything, which is pointless, others will have loads of them - one for each thing - none remembered. Very few of them will have them encrypted or in a password protected vault, they will be open text. Anyone accessing their device will be home free. That's up to the individual to sort out but it will happen and then will come the wails of "I was scammed".

I have a suspicion that by not having a digital ID I will be quietly locked out of some services offered or have to jump through many hoops to get to them. That is the case even now with some places. When I get my gas bill via email I can use the link to go and pay directly but I cannot go to the rest of the website unless I register or login. Same with the bank, there is an email link to download the latest statement in .pdf format but that's it, for anything else I need to go through their three stage login procedure.

I have never been against a physical photo ID with basic information about me printed on the front and back.

[miasmum]

I cant tell you how much I would welcome a physical ID card with a photo. I had to apply for a DBS the other day, but no photo ID. They finally agreed on my birth Certificate, my driving licence and my P60 but what a faff.

[Suff]

I have never been against a physical photo ID with basic information about me printed on the front and back.

You just described a passport. But a passport is optional. An ID card is not.

I am totally and completely against non optional ID.

Even with a passport, places demand "other" identity to get services.

Also it remains the fact that physical id cards are the first to be breached for mal actors. Witness the UK used physical ID against other countries in our spying activities to very great effect. What do you do when you find that, in a very few cases, you can't trust this ID?

Back to loads of corroborating identity data.

Personally I have very little outside of my passport and DL. Both of which are photo ID. Both are classed in the same category. Therefore forcing other identification means. So if you don't have a mobile phone contract, don't pay the bills, don't pay the council tax, just how do you prove you are who you are? In some cases housewives don't even have a bank account of their own.

Imaging trying to get a digital ID when you don't have the corroborating identity docs the government want...

It's a minefield. Do the companies by all means. Leave the people alone.

[miasmum]

But I dont have either Suff, my passport ran out about 20 years ago and my driving licence is the original pink one. Yes I could apply for either but why should I pay just to jump through hoops.

Give me a photo ID card and I'll be perfectly happy