A number of challenges besets the issue of an individual's online identity, not least simply trying to define what it is and what it might mean. The problem is that, in an electronic world, not only are people fundamentally
anonymous (or pseudonymous), but identities also tend to be very fragmented and can comprise many aspects depending on how any given person interacts with any given channel.
After wasting a lot of time on its controversial identity card scheme, which has now been abolished, the UK is now 10 years behind other European countries in terms of introducing trusted credentials that would enable its citizens to transact securely online.
However, with much work afoot at the European Union level to try to tackle the thorny issue of e-identification at a pan-European level, the country is now being forced to play catch-up. Cath Everett looks at the key EU initiatives that are taking place in this area and also explores what action the UK is taking to try to establish trusted credentials of its own.
