Disclosed herein is an identity network that can provide a universal, digital identity for users that can be used to authenticate the user by an identity provider for relying parties. The identity network receives a request from a relying party that includes deep linking to an identity provider selected by the user. The request specifies the user as well as any other information about the user the relying party is requesting. A service of the identity network launches the application for the identity provider on the user's device using a software development kit. The user can log into the identity provider's application, which validates the user and provides the user authentication/validation and information about the user to the identity network. The identity network can then provide the indication of the user's authentication and the user information to the relying party.