Privacy and identity are two emotive and complex subjects. The conception of a Digital Pound is no less so. Design decisions taken at the early stages of development will have long-lasting effects. They should be taken following clear and considered discussions amongst all stakeholders. The goal of the Digital Pound Foundation’s Privacy and Identity Working Group is to facilitate an objective discussion of the privacy and identity issues concerning a Digital Pound. It will articulate the viewpoints of all the stakeholders and develop a set of principles against which solution options can be evaluated. Through open communication it will provide a resource for decision makers to consult when evaluating the benefits of different approaches.
- Consult and engage with interested DPF Members on the subject of identity and privacy in the context of a digital Pound
- Communicate with external stakeholders through published articles, documents and public meetings so as to get feedback on the DPF analysis as it develops
- Achieve a broad consensus on a generic set of principles that should be applied to the Digital Pound
- Assess the emerging design of the Digital Pound against these principles and thereby provide constructive and reasoned critiques
Group Lead
David Rennie, our Privacy and Identity Working Group lead, brings extensive expertise to the table. With a background as a payments consultant, David has dedicated the past 18 years to immersing himself in the oscillating debate surrounding identity in the UK. His involvement spans pivotal initiatives such as the Identity Card Programme, James Crosby’s independent review, the Privacy and Consumer Advisory Group, the Open Identity Exchange, and GOV.UK Verify.
All Digital Pound Foundation members have the opportunity to get involved in the creation of educational materials, thought leadership and resources, as well as an engaging programme of communications, publications and events, that will not only support the wider understanding of new forms of digital money, but help to showcase their knowledge and expertise. If your organisation would like to get involved with the Payments Working Group, or any of our other working groups, we would love to hear from you.
Over the past decade, there has been rapid innovation in how people make payments, and Covid-19 has accelerated these trends. The use of physical cash in payments continues to decline, and demand for convenience, especially with regard to e-commerce, has fuelled public appetite for digital payments.