Digital identity trends that will shape digital governments in 2022

Published on February 10, 2022

Lately, digital identity is looking drastically different from how it used to just a few years ago. Businesses, consumers, and citizens alike demand digital identities that are secure and flexible without sacrificing ease of use or data privacy. 

As our world grows more digital, challenges in traditional identity solutions become apparent, driving everyone to seek out new ways to create, manage, and secure their digital identities in the future. 

Digital identity continues to be a hot topic in the digital world, and it’s only going to become more relevant as we progress into 2022. 

Thus, the future of digital identity will continue to be shaped by factors like digital privacy and security, public acceptance of new technologies, new legislation, user experience trends, and more. 

Here are just some of the digital identity expected trends for 2022 

Some digital identity regulations around the world

A digital identity is a representation of people’s online and physical persona. 

It gives users a way to sign in to various (public or private) online services without needing separate credentials for each website or platform.

Seeing the increased need for more privacy and security, several regulations have supported this trend.

In Estonia and the United Kingdom, tests of blockchain technologies have been used to develop new programs. 

In Estonia, blockchain technology is being used to help develop a digital residency program for transnational business owners; in the UK, digital records are being created with blockchain technology that could allow for efficient welfare payments to citizens. 

The use of blockchain-based self-sovereign identity has been explored for decentralized digital ID architecture since 2018.

Moreover, The United Nations and World Bank have partnered up to provide everyone on the planet with a legal identity by 2030.

In recent years, digital driver’s license projects gained momentum in Argentina, Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, etc.

The European Commission proposed in 2021 a digital ID scheme that could be used across the EU by more than 80% of the EU population by 2030. 

Trends that will shape 2022

1. People will demand a digital ID

Expect to see an evolution in how companies and governments approach digital ID. 

In 2022, the trend toward remote, digital public and private services will continue. Every individual will become a digital person.

Biometrics will be a major component of digital ID. The most successful digital governments will need to place trusted digital identities at the centre of their policies.

2. Greater demand for security and trust

In an increasingly globalized world, people will be looking for digital channels to help them with their day-to-day needs. 

This means there’s an increasing demand for secure and trusted digital channels – whether to apply for a loan, learn about or pay taxes or even start a new business. 

Digital identities will become more and more essential in our daily lives as we continue toward a cashless society where transactions are both safer and simpler. 

Likewise, governments worldwide will also turn to digital identity solutions to deliver greater security and convenience at lower costs than traditional approaches. 

3. More national ID initiatives and implementations

Many countries worldwide have long begun their journey toward national ID initiatives. 

The pandemic really showed us that the tipping point has been reached.

A majority of the global endeavours will be issued either through government or private sector authorities.

However, depending on how these programs work out, they could evolve into more comprehensive national identification systems than what exists today. 

Digital ID initiatives from the EU, USA, New Zealand, and Australia suggest we are off to a good start.

4. Commitment to privacy 

The key challenge for public authorities will be to create a framework of trust that secures the relationship between new mobile identities and society at large. This will only be possible through data protection and security guarantees.

Fears of losing personal data are growing as the quantity and quality of data harvested by technology increase. People want to manage their own data. 

They feel they should have the choice and control over what data they share, with whom, and how it will be used. But only 69% of countries worldwide have data protection and privacy legislation in place. 

To conclude…

Looking at previous digital identity predictions for 2022, it’s interesting to see how some have come true while others have been way off. 

Do keep in mind that these are just predictions and are not fixed in stone. 

Instead, they should be looked at as an evolution of our ideas and a lens into what lies ahead. 

What started with just a few powerful organizations has transformed into a space where consumers, citizens and even governments now have an opportunity to be part of something much bigger than themselves. 

The future of digital identity is only getting better, and it’s going to take everyone working together to get there.

Sources:

https://unctad.org/page/data-protection-and-privacy-legislation-worldwide

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_2663

https://id4d.worldbank.org/

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200812000657

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-cybersecurity/2021/02/08/digital-id-bill-to-make-a-comeback-793232

About the Author

Mohammad J Sear is focused on bringing purpose to digital in government.

He has obtained his leadership training from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, USA and holds an MBA from the University of Leicester, UK.

After a successful 12+ years career in the UK government during the premiership of three Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair, Mohammad moved to the private sector and has now for 20+ years been advising government organizations in the UK, Middle East, Australasia and South Asia on strategic challenges and digital transformation.

He is currently working for Ernst & Young (EY) and leading the Digital Government practice efforts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and is also a Digital Government and Innovation lecturer at the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po, France.

As a thought-leader some of the articles he has authored include: “Digital is great but exclusion isn’t – make data work for driving better digital inclusion” published in Harvard Business Review, “Holistic Digital Government” published in the MIT Technology Review, “Want To Make Citizens Happy – Put Experience First” published in Forbes Middle East.

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