Government Aims to Establish Public Trust in New Digital ID System

Australia’s government services minister, Bill Shorten, has announced the development of a new digital identity and credential system called the Trust Exchange (TEx). Shorten described the system as “world leading” and a significant step forward for Australia’s digital infrastructure. However, details about the system are limited, and Shorten acknowledged that it is still an abstract concept. The Trust Exchange system aims to allow individuals to prove information about themselves, such as their identity or age, to organizations while controlling the amount of information shared. The system has the potential to simplify access to government and business services while maintaining privacy. However, its success will depend on public trust, which is currently undermined by previous government technology failures. To address potential trust and privacy concerns, the government needs to provide clear explanations about the system’s functionality, the information it collects, who has access to that information, and how it will be secured. It is crucial for the government to prioritize privacy and security to gain public confidence in the new digital identity system.