Earlier this month, the Gallium team joined tech founders, investors, and businesses from across Europe for this year’s Sifted Summit. With resilience at the core of this year’s theme, the event was a timely reminder of how rapidly technology is evolving and how businesses must adapt to stay ahead. From conversations across the floor, one thing became clear: the next frontier of the internet is not raw infrastructure or even pure AI, it’s trust, identity, and sovereignty over data.
Key themes that rippled through the event included decentralization, interoperability, and privacy.
The Digital ID Debate
Privacy, in particular, dominated discussion and for good reason. Earlier this month, the UK government announced its plans for a new digital ID scheme. The proposal is that everyone with legal residence in the UK will hold a digital ID on their phone’s GOV.UK wallet by 2029 and that it will streamline everything from applying for driving licences to accessing welfare and tax services.
The announcement has since drawn immediate backlash over privacy, inclusion, and “mission creep” concerns, with almost 3 million people signing a petition opposing the scheme. On the other side of the debate the clear benefits of rolling out a digital ID can be understood. As fans of tech and making lives easier we can get on board, if it’s rolled out correctly, however.
Learning from Global Leaders
The UK government has plenty of case studies to be learning from that have already successfully rolled out digital ID systems. Take Estonia for example, the team in fact met the Republic of Estonia e-Residency at the Sifted Summit to learn more about their management of the digital ID system in Estonia.
The country was the first to offer e-Residency in the form of a government-issue digital identity and status for non-residents that provides access to Estonia’s e-services and business environment. Already used by more than 125,000 from 170+ countries and establishing over 36,000 Estonian companies. Of which, benefit from the ease of running their company from abroad in a trusted EU environment with a country that has spent decades building strong digital governance as well as taking advantage of the free movement of goods and services within the EU.
Other countries that have successfully implemented a digital ID system include Denmark, Spain, Canada and Japan.
Trust is the Next Layer of the Internet
From the conversations we’ve had and the headlines we’ve seen, one thing is certain: the internet’s identity layer is becoming more established. The coming years will bring major developments around how we prove who we are online, and how organizations manage that information responsibly.
For these systems to succeed, governments and businesses must adopt a privacy-first mindset. Data security and transparency will be non-negotiable, especially in a threat landscape that grows more complex by the day.
Why effective comms is more important than ever
As technology reshapes the boundaries of identity and trust, clear, confident communication becomes critical. That’s where Gallium helps.
We’ve worked with innovative tech brands navigating complex conversations around security, privacy, and digital transformation. Helping them articulate not just what they do, but why people should trust them. Whether it’s shaping messaging for a launch, supporting crisis communications, or developing thought leadership around responsible tech, our focus is always the same: helping brands communicate transparently and build credibility in a privacy-sensitive world.
Digital trust isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a communications one. And as the digital ID debate evolves, organizations that speak clearly, empathetically, and responsibly will be the ones who earn and keep that trust.
Let’s Talk
Want to learn more about what we heard and saw at Sifted Summit, or explore how Gallium can help you build trust and awareness in a privacy-driven tech landscape? Get in touch: