Digital ID - Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

On 19 June, the Data (Use and Access) Act received Royal Assent, meaning the proposed Bill has become Law.

This Act is a major milestone towards the creation and empowerment of trustworthy digital identities which will allow people to verify their identity (and age) using digital proof rather than physical documentation (such as a passport or driving licence) when seeking to transact age-restricted products such as alcohol, tobacco, and gaming.  The Act will also impact many other areas of peoples lives which require one to prove your identify.

What’s Next

Although now ‘Law’ the Act has not yet been commenced (switched on) by the Government.  The Government have stated that they plan to commence most of the measures relating to Digital Verification Services later this year.

When the legislation is commenced, the government will have new powers and responsibilities, such as: 

• issuing an official UK digital identity trust mark (like a kitemark) so that people can easily see which services are secure and can be trusted
• maintaining a statutory register of digital verification service providers on GOV.UK rather than physical documentation (such as a passport or driving licence)                        
• consultation requirements on the trust framework
• enabling public authorities to share information with providers of registered services
• producing annual reports on the operation of Part 2 of the Data (Use and Access) Act

We shall keep you updated.