From January to March 2023, the federal government consulted on proposed laws to help quick, secure and safe knowledge sharing between departments to allow folks to extra simply entry public companies on-line.
The proposed laws will allow more practical on-line identification verification when accessing authorities companies. This contains permitting checks towards a broader vary of trusted knowledge held by related public our bodies. It’ll imply that individuals who at the moment can’t entry authorities companies on-line shall be ready to take action.
The proposal will help the roll out of the brand new cross-government GOV.UK One Login system. GOV.UK One Login permits customers to create an account, sign up, and show they’re who they are saying they’re in an effort to entry authorities companies on-line. Folks will have the ability to ‘reuse’ their confirmed identification, without having to undergo the identification checking course of every time they use a distinct service.
The beneath reality web page addresses a number of misconceptions concerning the proposed laws which various responses to the session raised.
CLAIM: The federal government is creating a compulsory ID card.
FACT: The proposed laws doesn’t embrace any proposal to create both a digital or bodily ID card. The federal government is dedicated to creating it as straightforward as doable for folks to show who they’re on-line, and entry the companies they want, with out creating obligatory ID playing cards.
CLAIM: Utilizing GOV.UK One Login shall be obligatory.
FACT: No. Having a GOV.UK One Login account is not going to be obligatory for UK residents. Offline and face-to-face routes shall be accessible for people who don’t need to use the net service.
CLAIM: This may make it simpler for hackers to pay money for my knowledge.
FACT: Cybersecurity is a essential precedence for the federal government. We recognise how necessary it’s to guard customers and their knowledge and have sturdy measures in place to make sure the safety and integrity of on-line authorities companies and techniques. We’re following trade commonplace processes relating to safety and resilience, and moreover consulting related exterior organisations for experience and assurance.
CLAIM: Sharing knowledge on this approach will erode my privateness rights.
FACT: The federal government has stringent knowledge safety processes in place. All knowledge sharing is compliant with knowledge safety laws and steering revealed by the Data Commissioner’s Workplace (ICO).
This may stay the case for any and all knowledge sharing subsequent to the proposed laws. Moreover, all knowledge sharing utilizing Digital Economic system Act 2017 powers should additionally adhere to the statutory underpinning Codes of Follow which incorporates penalties for misuse.
Extra data on how GOV.UK One Login is utilizing knowledge is accessible by accessing the GOV.UK One Login Knowledge Ethics Evaluation and by accessing the GOV.UK One Login privateness discover. We shall be publishing additional data on this matter sooner or later.
CLAIM: Knowledge collected might be used for different functions with out my permission.
FACT: The proposed rules solely relate to utilizing knowledge for the needs of confirming your identification with the intention to entry authorities companies. It is not going to be used for another functions.
CLAIM: The proposed laws is the start of a transition to a cashless society.
FACT: The proposed laws is about enabling the required knowledge sharing to make sure a quicker, extra accessible path to accessing authorities companies. It has no influence on whether or not companies or merchandise could be bought utilizing money.
CLAIM: The proposed laws will make it simpler for the federal government to implement a social credit score system.
FACT: The proposed laws is about enabling the required knowledge sharing to make sure a quicker, extra accessible path to accessing authorities companies. There are not any plans to implement a social credit score system.
CLAIM: This may make it simpler for the federal government to observe how I reside my life.
FACT: The proposed laws doesn’t enable the federal government to have interaction in knowledge sharing for any functions apart from identification verification when accessing authorities companies. Any particular person – together with authorities staff, contractors and others – who accesses or shares a consumer’s private knowledge, apart from for the very particular functions set out, could also be breaking the regulation.
CLAIM: The federal government received’t be clear about the way it’s utilizing my knowledge.
FACT: Public authorities disclosing knowledge beneath the proposed laws are required to be open and clear. That is underpinned by a Code of Follow.
Any sharing of knowledge utilizing the proposed powers shall be included within the present, searchable public register of knowledge shares.
CLAIM: That is discriminatory towards individuals who aren’t ready to make use of the web.
FACT: We’ll proceed to supply folks the choice to confirm their identification through offline channels. Offline strategies of identification verification and the flexibility to entry many authorities companies in-person will stay.
CLAIM: This may allow bulk knowledge sharing throughout authorities.
FACT: The proposed laws is not going to allow bulk knowledge sharing. The proposed laws will solely allow knowledge sharing between specified organisations for the needs of identification verification. The desired organisations shall be public sector our bodies concerned in supporting folks to entry authorities companies.
