Digital IDs take identity verification to the next level, but for some there are privacy and security concerns. Photo: 123RF
Digital identification is on its way - where it settles is a matter of how comfortable the population is with sharing their information
Digital IDs are being hailed as the more efficient approach to identity verification, but privacy and security concerns mean many people are hesitant to accept the new technology.
Last week UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer announced that British residents would soon need a digital ID to be able to work legally. The move dominated headlines across the world. A petition launched shortly after the announcement against it has since amassed over 2.5 million signatures.
Gorilla Technology chief executive Paul Spain understands the pushback, and is worried that the pace that things are moving at isn't giving people enough time to fully educate themselves about it.
"There are enough examples [of how] things can go wrong that we shouldn't push people to complete compliance," he says.
In this episode of The Detail, Spain explains how digital IDs take identity verification to the next level.
"For example, when I flew out of Houston a couple of nights ago, I did not need to open up my passport and present that at the gate.
"They had previously taken a photo of me, they verified me against the photo in their system and so it became very seamless for me just to walk on to the airplane," he says.
But as with anything new, digital IDs will take some getting used to, and Spain says giving people the freedom to opt in or out is essential.
"I know that has some downsides. We don't get the full benefits unless we enact this and enforce it on everyone, but I think that we still get a significant upside through giving people that optionality," he says.
The Detail also speaks to Joe Edwards, a partner at Russell McVeagh law firm, about some of the privacy and security concerns.
He says there aren't any legal issues that immediately stand out but there are concerns.
"My initial reaction was as soon as you put anything in the cloud or you store it electronically, you open yourself up to being hacked and then once anything gets hacked it's very hard to get it back," he says.
Identity theft is another concern for Edwards.
"That's where government has to try and keep up with technology.
"Cyber-attackers are very, very sophisticated people ... and we've obviously got AI ... and that's also a concern. How you'd use AI to potentially manipulate the digital identities," he says.
But legally Edwards doesn't see anything wrong with digital IDs, as long as they remain voluntary.
"Now is it an erosion of rights and privacy? Well, I think everything is an erosion of privacy because your starting point is, 'it's my information, nobody should have it and know anything about me,' but then you wouldn't be able to operate in our society.
"So there has to be a little bit of erosion each time and in my view, as long as it's done for the right things and it's done in accordance with the law then that's acceptable," he says.
New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner, Michael Webster, wasn't available for an interview but in a written statement told The Detail that it makes a big difference when and how often organisations are asking for an individual's identity and what they're using it for.
"If it's for something you want, that you are choosing to engage in, like buying a bottle of wine to go with dinner I think people are relatively comfortable with that.
"If it moves to situations that involve the potential use of state power in other ways, like checking people's immigration status on the spot, then that's quite a different scenario."
Webster says it also comes down to how much power people have over their information.
"If digital IDs are just a way of linking up systems that hold information, and people have good visibility and real choices, including the choice not to use digital ID, that is good for privacy. If it's more centralised or less transparent, that's where we know New Zealanders have real concerns."
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