By the end of this year, all Australians will be able to use a “gold standard” digital identification platform on their phones to share private, personal information, instead of having to hand over confidential documents such as a passport or driver’s license.
Minister for Public Services Bill Shorten will use his address to the National Press Club on Tuesday to announce the nation’s Trust Exchange (TEx) program, currently in its proof-of-concept phase and due to launch later this year.
The technology is accessible through a person’s myGov wallet and stores information such as a person’s date of birth, address, nationality, visa status, qualifications, professional or child work permits, and other information already held by the government.
Using the example of booking a hotel room, Mr Shorten will say that TEx technology allows someone to share that information digitally, rather than having to hand over a passport or driving licence.
Someone starting a new job can also use a tool to verify their identity and then choose which documents they want to share with their new employer.
“You decide what data is exchanged,” he will say.
‘You will then have proof in your wallet that you have shared your passport and trade certificate with your employer, for example.’
The TEx program also allows information to be transferred via a ‘digital token’. This token does not contain any personal information, but can be used as ‘digital evidence’ in situations where someone needs to verify the data of another person.
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten will announce the TEx project during his speech at the National Press Club on Tuesday
Australians will soon be able to use their myGov app on their phone to securely provide personal information
“Imagine someone going to their local RSL and wanting to prove they’re from out of state or over 18, they simply hold their phone up to a QR code or a card reader and a digital token is sent to the club showing their identity, address and age,” Shorten said.
‘None of that information needs to be kept by the club. The token will be a valuable promise for the club, but of zero value to a cybercriminal.’
Services Australia is responsible for managing the rollout of the program and will work collaboratively with other government systems.
Furthermore, the data protection protocols will be stricter than the General Data Protection Regulation that applies throughout the European Union.