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What is digital identity?

Digital identity is proof of who you are online. It is a digital representation of your identity information, and other attributes about you, that you can use to prove who you are online, to access services digitally.

As daily activities move increasingly online, whether connecting socially or making a purchase, people and organisations need to be able to show who they are in a safe, secure and easily accessible way.

Sharing attributes

Digital identity involves using digital technologies to share pieces of personal or organisational information. These pieces of information are called attributes. Sharing attributes digitally allows users to access services and complete transactions online seamlessly and conveniently.

Sharing attributes within the proposed Digital Identity Services Trust Framework will be both user-initiated and consent-based. This gives users control over how much and which pieces of information are shared.

Examples of when you may need to share attributes include:

  • opening a bank account
  • selling a property
  • applying for a benefit
  • getting a job
  • enrolling for study.

At work you might need to:

  • apply for permits for your company
  • show your organisation is licensed for an activity
  • prove that you are qualified to perform a task.

To complete these activities, service providers need assurance that what people claim about themselves is true and individuals need confidence that their information is secure.

Read more about the Trust Framework’s key concepts and principles in the section Digital Identity Services Trust Framework.

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