Digital Identity

UK ID verification scheme hit by “optimism bias and ill-defined objectives”, says watchdog

The UK’s flagship digital identity verification system has been severely criticised by the National Audit Office, in a move likely to reinforce the search for alternative models among other governments. […]

UK steps back from Verify ID system

The UK has announced the end of public funding for its digital identity programme, Verify. Last week, the government signed five 18-month contracts with its certified private sector identity partners, […]

Blockchain: alchemy or wizardry?

Like the cryptocurrencies that gave birth to them, blockchain technologies attract excitement and scepticism in equal measure. Don’t believe the hype, says James Johns – but in time, blockchain could […]

Opponents of India’s ID card system win court victory

The Indian Supreme Court has recognised privacy as a fundamental human right, in a case brought by rights campaigners challenging the government’s roll-out of a massive digital identity database. Campaigners […]

New Russian law permits remote medical consultations and patient database

Russian state healthcare providers will soon be able to offer remote consultations and prescriptions, under new legislation which also establishes a new nationwide patient records database. The legislation, which comes […]

UK tax authority rejects Government Digital Service ID system

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the UK’s tax authority, has confirmed it is to develop a dedicated identity verification system for its online users – sparking a debate over why […]

Estonia doubles e-Residency fee to cope with growing demand

The Estonian government is doubling its e-Residency fees to cope with growing demand. Kaspar Korjus, e-Residency programme director, said today that the €50 (US$ 54.50) application fee will be put […]

A smart move for streamlined service delivery?

Graham Scott analyses the potential of smart ID cards to drive efficiency in public services Imagine that every bit of information a government needs about its citizens could be stored […]