engine - 5:00 pm on Oct 5, 2012 (gmt 0)

Whooooaaaa, this is a big thing, and something i'd not be keen on, whether it be Facebook or one of the other businesses indicated. This should not be in the hands of a business.

The Cabinet Office is working on its Identity Assurance (IDA) programme, a scheme that is intended to help people securely sign into online public services, without the need for an ID card. The login mechanisms for existing private-sector services are under consideration, and the office will say later this month which companies will be trusted providers. On Thursday, a Cabinet Office spokesman confirmed to ZDNet UK reports that suggested social media firms, banks and mobile phone businesses are all in line. "Facebook and people like that are potential providers," the spokesman said. "I'm not in a position to name individual companies that might be IDA providers [but] any ID assurance provider that can meet the level of assurance that we want can clearly provide that service."U.K. Considering Facebook Logins For Public Services Access [zdnet.com]