The Path to Digital Identity in the United States

As more of Americans’ everyday activities move online, the lack of digital identity solutions becomes more of a problem. Countries around the world have forged ahead in offering digital ID, leaving the United States in the dust. There is a better way, one spearheaded by a national initiative to ensure all Americans have access to convenient, accessible, and trustworthy forms of digital ID. This report lays out a path toward achieving that goal. To start, it outlines the benefits of digital ID over physical forms of identification. It then analyzes trends in digital identity around the world, looking at various countries’ digital ID offerings and how the private sector plays a role in making digital ID widely available. It explores the current patchwork of digital identity in the United States and the early efforts at creating a national standard for digital ID implementation. Finally, it recommends policies federal and state governments should take toward the future of digital identity in America.