Three UK-based digital identity associations have asked the government to restrict the GOV.UK Wallet and One Login systems to public-sector authentication only. In a joint letter to Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle, the Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA), the Association of Digital Verification Professionals (ADVP), and the Online Safety Tech Industry Association (OSTIA) urged statutory action to prevent the expansion of these services into private-sector use cases.
The GOV.UK Wallet is a digital application that will allow users to store and present official government documents, such as a digital driving licence, directly on their mobile phones. These documents may be used to verify identity, age, or eligibility for services when dealing with businesses, public bodies, or other institutions. Only documents issued by the government will be supported in the app. Non-government content, such as entertainment tickets or transport passes, cannot be added. Use of the app will remain optional for all individuals.
GOV.UK One Login is a single sign-on service designed to simplify access to various central government platforms. It allows users to log in with one set of credentials and view a centralised record of the services they have accessed. The authentication process includes two-factor verification to enhance account security.
The associations warned that if these systems are extended beyond public use, the resulting overlap with private sector services could damage market dynamics. They cited a combined industry contribution of £2bn in revenue and 11,000 jobs. “The news has triggered widespread uncertainty among suppliers and investors,” they wrote.
In their submission, the organisations expressed concern that a government-run identity infrastructure, if applied broadly, could replicate services already developed by private firms. “We are concerned about the inadvertent creation of a government monopoly in digital identity – one that could stifle innovation, limit consumer choice and impose billions of new costs on the taxpayer for functions the private sector currently provides,” the letter stated.
Statutory recommendations from industry groups
To address these concerns, the associations recommended three actions. These include limiting the GOV.UK Wallet and One Login to public service authentication, and ensuring that Trust Framework-compliant IDs from private entities remain valid for government use. The third action is to allow users to store government-issued credentials in any certified identity wallet, not just the GOV.UK Wallet.
They also proposed the establishment of a joint technical working group to improve collaboration between the public and private sectors. “Investors will be further reassured if these equality, portability and interoperability principles are enshrined in the Data (Use and Access) Bill,” the letter added.
The organisations stated that they were not consulted ahead of the announcement and described the impact as significant.
Recently, the Government Digital Service (GDS), part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), launched a private beta testing phase for the GOV.UK App. Nearly 5,000 individuals have been invited to participate in this early trial, which is intended to generate user feedback that will inform future development and deployment plans.
Read more: GDS begins beta testing of GOV.UK App with 5,000 users
