Digital Identity Is Moving from Strategy to Real Infrastructure

Digital Identity Is Moving from Strategy to Real Infrastructure

Digital identity is no longer just a matter of regulation, strategy, and political declarations. Recent developments in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada show that governments and standardization bodies are now building concrete operational frameworks for digital identity services, attribute verification, and digital trust.

This is an important stage in the development of the market, as digital ID is increasingly expected to support not only public services, but also banking, employment processes, property rental, education, healthcare, travel, and the private sector.

United Kingdom: Digital Verification Services Trust Framework 1.0

The United Kingdom has published a pre-release version of the Digital Verification Services Trust Framework 1.0. This is a set of rules and requirements for providers of digital identity verification and attribute verification services.

The new framework replaces the earlier DIATF, the Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework, and is intended to serve as the basis for certifying digital identity service providers. This means that companies offering such services will be able to undergo independent assessment for compliance with defined standards of security, quality, and reliability.

In practice, the UK framework applies to areas such as:

AML, or anti-money laundering, where digital identity verification can support know-your-customer processes and reduce the risk of abuse;
right-to-work checks, confirming a person’s right to work in the United Kingdom;
right-to-rent checks, confirming a person’s right to rent property;
DBS checks, carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service, used among other things to vet people working with children, vulnerable individuals, or in roles requiring a particularly high level of trust.

The framework is also intended to support the UK CertifID trust mark. In practice, such a mark may become a signal for users, businesses, and public institutions that a given digital verification provider operates in line with recognized requirements and has been assessed by an accredited conformity assessment body.

European Union: EUDI Wallet and eIDAS 2.0

At the same time, Europe is developing the ecosystem for the European Digital Identity Wallet, known as the EUDI Wallet. This is one of the key elements of the eIDAS 2.0 regulation, which aims to create a common framework for digital identity across the European Union.

The idea is straightforward: every citizen, resident, or company in the European Union should be able to use a digital wallet to securely confirm their identity and selected attributes. This means not only proving “who I am,” but also confirming specific information, such as age, professional qualifications, a diploma, driving licence, student status, or authorization to act on behalf of a company.

ETSI has published the first package of standards for the EUDI Wallet. It covers areas such as interoperability, privacy, security, identity proofing, electronic signatures, trust lists, and attestation profiles. This is crucial because digital wallets issued in different EU countries must work consistently and be recognized across borders.

Example applications of the EUDI Wallet may include:

opening a bank account without repeatedly submitting scans of identity documents;
confirming age for services subject to age restrictions;
presenting a diploma or professional qualification during recruitment;
electronically signing documents;
accessing public administration services;
confirming entitlements in healthcare, education, finance, transport, or cross-border services.

From a cybersecurity perspective, one of the most important benefits is the reduction of excessive data sharing. A digital wallet should allow the user to confirm a specific attribute, such as being over 18, without having to disclose the entire identity document.

Canada: Pan-Canadian Trust Framework and DIACC

Canada is developing its own digital trust ecosystem based on the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework, or PCTF. This is a set of principles, criteria, and requirements designed to support interoperability, security, and trust in digital identity services.

An important part of this model is the role of DIACC, the Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada. The organization develops trust frameworks and accreditation processes that allow independent auditors to assess providers of digital identity solutions.

Recently, Fime became the first Quebec-based auditor accredited by DIACC under the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework. This means that digital identity service providers, financial institutions, public organizations, and technology companies now have another route to independent assessment of compliance with the requirements of Canada’s trust ecosystem.

In practice, such audits may cover areas including:

compliance of identity proofing processes with PCTF requirements;
security of identity data processing;
interoperability of solutions with other services and systems;
organizational resilience against fraud, impersonation, and identity theft;
the level of user control over shared data.
Digital Identity as the Foundation of Future Services

The common denominator across developments in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada is the move from broad concepts to infrastructure that is intended to work in practice. Digital identity is no longer just an add-on to online services. It is becoming a foundational layer for trusted relationships between citizens, businesses, public administration, and service providers.

For organizations, this means the need to prepare for a new model of verifying users, customers, employees, and partners. Increasingly, the key issues will not only be traditional login mechanisms, but also attribute verification, consent management, data minimization, interoperability, and compliance with local and international standards.

From a cybersecurity perspective, digital identity can reduce the risk of fraud, fake accounts, and identity theft. At the same time, poorly designed systems may increase the risk of excessive data collection, profiling, or abuse. This is why independent certification, clear technical standards, and user-side control mechanisms are so important.

The latest initiatives show that digital ID is entering the stage of real implementation. It is no longer only a topic for the future, but an element of infrastructure that will increasingly shape the way people access public, financial, educational, and commercial services in the coming years.

Sources: GOV.UK, ETSI, FIME
19/06/2026

tożsamość cyfrowa, cyfrowa tożsamość, digital identity, identyfikacja cyfrowa, cyfrowe ID, portfel tożsamości cyfrowej, Europejski Portfel Tożsamości Cyfrowej, EUDI Wallet, eIDAS 2.0, eIDAS, weryfikacja tożsamości, weryfikacja atrybutów, zaufanie cyfrowe, infrastruktura zaufania, cyfrowe poświadczenia, elektroniczne poświadczenia atrybutów, AML, KYC, right-to-work, right-to-rent, DBS checks, ETSI, DIACC, Pan-Canadian Trust Framework, PCTF, Digital Verification Services Trust Framework, UK CertifID, cyberbezpieczeństwo, ochrona danych, prywatność, interoperacyjność, podpis elektroniczny, usługi publiczne online, transformacja cyfrowa, Keywords EN, digital identity, digital ID, identity verification, attribute verification, digital trust, trust framework, digital identity wallet, European Digital Identity Wallet, EUDI Wallet, eIDAS 2.0, eIDAS, electronic attestations of attributes, verified credentials, identity proofing, AML, KYC, right-to-work checks, right-to-rent checks, DBS checks, ETSI standards, DIACC, Pan-Canadian Trust Framework, PCTF, Digital Verification Services Trust Framework, UK CertifID, cybersecurity, data protection, privacy, interoperability, electronic signature, public digital services, digital transformation, identity governance