Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the barriers faced by people who use non-invasive ventilators in completing facial recognition-based identity verification; and what assessment they have made of the impact on disabled people who are consequently unable to access essential services such as banking.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK digital verification services trust framework describes rules for providers to follow to show they provide trustworthy digital verification services. The trust framework requires that all services follow accepted standards on accessible service design.
For digital verification services providing identity verification, we know that certain identity checking methods won’t suit some users, such as people whose circumstances make facial recognition difficult to use, which is why the trust framework enables services to employ a wide range of methods for identity proofing, including some which don’t require use of facial biometrics.
Businesses choosing to check users’ identities using digital verification services may set requirements on what identity checking methods they will accept, and where these require facial biometrics that are difficult for a user, they can choose to follow other identity checking routes instead.
These businesses, which may include banks and other financial services, must consider their obligations under wider legislation such as the Equality Act 2010, when considering how they deliver their services.