Authorities likens myGov to a garaged Ferrari – Safety

The federal government is hoping to extend utilization of myGov by increasing it past its present position as a gateway to digital authorities providers and setting it up as a form of identification alternate.

Authorities providers minister Invoice Shorten mentioned on Tuesday {that a} proof-of-concept is being led by Providers Australia “between now and December”, utilizing $11.4 million of seed funding.

The anticipated result’s Belief Trade or TEx.

The mannequin appears to be like much like different digital identification exchanges being promoted by the non-public sector, in that it’s “not a pockets or app or ID” however merely a mechanism to permit an individual to confirm who they’re.

Nevertheless, moderately than permitting folks to reuse an current trusted identification from a financial institution or comparable when making an attempt to determine who they’re with a brand new service supplier, the concept right here is that identification may very well be established utilizing data held by the federal authorities.

Shorten instructed that, when checking right into a lodge, as an alternative of handing over a driver’s license or passport, “you’d scan a QR code on the entrance desk – or use expertise much like tap-to-pay machine – that digitally ‘shakes palms’ together with your myGov pockets.”

“You select solely the data you want to share with the lodge out of your digital pockets and consent to its use,” he mentioned.

“You should have a document in your myGov pockets of what you shared and with whom you shared it.”

He additionally instructed banks, telcos and actual property brokers may be prospects.

Shorten mentioned that no matter format the trusted token wound up being, it might not be of worth if accessed by a foul actor,

“The token will probably be a useful promise to the membership, however of zero worth to a cybercriminal as a result of the affirmation token is not going to include any private data,” he mentioned.

“All that has been exchanged has been a digital ‘thumbs up’ from the federal government that you’re who you say you might be.”

Shorten mentioned that between now and the tip of the 12 months, TEx “will set up the power to concern a verified credential, the power to selectively share data, and the power to show identification with out sharing any data.”

“By January 2025, the proof of idea will probably be full, and we’ll assess what our choices are for pilots,” he mentioned.

Shorten mentioned TEx could be “an opt-in system” however he hoped its utility and comfort would assure take-up.

And the federal government might want to see take-up, as it’s banking on TEx to rework myGov and improve its utility to residents.

“myGov is the most important on-line platform within the nation with 5.6 million folks now utilizing the myGov app – however for the time being its potential is underutilised,” Shorten mentioned.

“We’ve got a Ferrari within the storage that we solely take out to do the grocery purchasing.

“I wish to change that.”