HM Treasury and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) have published joint guidance confirming that DIATF-certified Digital Verification Services (DVS) can fulfil identity verification obligations under Regulation 28 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. This guidance gives regulated businesses across financial services, legal, property, gambling and other sectors much-needed clarity and regulatory certainty when using digital identity solutions. SmartSearch’s identity verification platform is DIATF-certified and listed on the DVS Register, validating the company’s early investment in certification and its customer-first approach to identity verification.
Seyfi Günay, Chief Revenue Officer, SmartSearch, said: “The publication of joint guidance from HM Treasury and DSIT marks a watershed moment for digital identity verification in the UK. For the first time, the government has formally confirmed that certified Digital Verification Services can be used to fulfil identity verification obligations under Regulation 28 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. The guidance is clear: DVS certified against the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF) and listed on the DVS Register can be treated as a reliable and independent source of information with appropriate anti-impersonation assurance.
“SmartSearch’s identity verification solutions are DIATF-certified, meaning regulated entities across financial services, legal, property, gambling and other sectors can use our platform with complete confidence that they’re meeting their regulatory obligations. For us, this validates our investment in DIATF certification and confirms that our customer-first approach to development and technology delivers real value. Businesses using our platform are on the right side of regulatory expectations because we prioritised certification from the outset, not as a compliance checkbox, but as a commitment to giving our customers the certainty they need.
“What’s particularly significant is the breadth of sectors this affects. The Money Laundering Regulations apply to everyone from banks and investment firms to estate agents, art dealers and high-value goods traders. All of them now have clarity that certified digital identity solutions meet the standard.”
