Mastercard Collaborating with Australian DTA to Expand Digital Identity Services

(Judy Skatssoon | Governmentnews.au) – Mastercard says it will collaborate with the DTA, which is leading the government’s digital identity program, to expand its digital identity service.

The collaboration with the Digital Transformation Agency will involve exploring “how (the) technology could be used to enable more Australians to verify their age and identity digitally”, Mastercard said.

Eftpos also says the door is now open for it to work with the DTA after being announced on Monday as the first officially TDIF accredited non-government operator of a digital identity exchange in Australia.

Mastercard is seeking accreditation for its identity provider, credential provider and identity exchange services.

As part of its collaboration with the DTA it will work with the agency to “derive insights from a series of pilots led by the private sector,” including the experience and expectations of consumers, it said in a statement on Monday.

Mastercard declined to provide specific details on what its collaboration with the DTA will involve or whether it hoped to supply digital ID services to the government.

In a statement to Government News it said more information about the roll-out and nature of the collaboration would be provided in future.

A spokesperson for the DTA told Government News Mastercard was not currently seeking to onboard to the Australian Government Digital Identity System.

The global payments company introduced its digital identity service, ID, in 2019 when it announced it was integrating its system with Australia Post’s, and launched a pilot with Deakin University involving online exams.

Since then it has also entered into partnerships with Samsung, Optus and Microsoft.

Gaining insights into digital ID

As part of its expansion Mastercard is seeking accreditation under Australia’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF), which sets standards for identity service providers.

Mastercard says TDIF accreditation means it will be able to work with more local organisations to create digital identities using documents like passport and driving licences, use facial biometrics to verify identity, and connect and integrate with other digital identity providers. Read Full Article >