digital verification services
State‑enabled or accredited credential verification services.
How the laws define this
Regulators agree that digital verification services focus on digitally verifying or asserting the identity, attributes, or credentials of individuals under official regulatory oversight that includes consultation or involvement with the ICO. The principal divergence lies in how each legal instrument structures provider compliance and administration. The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 frames these bodies as state-enabled or accredited entities verifying entitlements or status specifically for reuse across both public and private services, setting out standards, accreditation, and interfaces through DSIT and the ICO. Conversely, the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill focuses on establishing a statutory trust framework requiring provider registration, compliance with approval criteria, and direct oversight under Secretary of State powers, which includes the potential awarding of a trust mark.
Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
Definitions (2)
Services and delivery bodies (state‑enabled or accredited) that verify credentials or attributes (such as identity, entitlements or status) for reuse across public and private services; the Act establishes standards, accreditation, oversight and interfaces (via DSIT/ICO) for these services.
Digital Verification Services (DVS) are services that digitally verify or assert the identity or attributes of individuals; the bill creates a statutory trust framework requiring DVS providers to register, meet approval criteria, and be subject to oversight (including potential awarding of a trust mark) administered under Secretary of State powers with ICO consultation.
Related Terms
digital identity service
A service enabling sharing of personal or organisational identity data....
accredited digital identity service
A digital identity service accredited under the TF regime....
Certificate-based services
Enumerated services that establish electronic trust and evidentiary certainty....
Digital Verification Services (DVS)
Certified digital identity services for verifying user attributes....
Binding service
Service that links credentials to real-world identities....