Yearly Archives: 2017

Spotlight on Boloro

Watch the video interview with CEO Karl Kilb:

A New Way To Authenticate & Pay

  1. What is the mission and vision of Boloro?

Boloro Global Limited is a New York City-based Delaware, USA corporation that is actively licensing its globally patented authentication technology worldwide for the security of mobile banking and payment apps, as well as logins for email, social media, access to data, and other activity.

Boloro’s mission and vision is to provide security through identity verification and transaction validation, using the mobile phone number and memorized PIN as unique identifiers, as well as the separation of the authentication process from the Internet and Operating System.  Mobile banking and payment apps who adopt Boloro’s authentication technology can promote financial inclusion, transparency and fraud prevention by leveraging our identity verification and settlement/reconciliation reports.  

Internet-based transactions are susceptible to fraud. Hackers routinely exploit the single point of failure.

The use of One-Time-Pins (OTP) is outdated and needs to be replaced because it is too susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks that exploit the inherent issues of the Internet and Operating Systems.  

In a similar way, biometric authentication can be too easy for fraudsters to replicate, and institutions are realizing that once a finger image is compromised in connection with any usage, it can never be relied on again. The storage of vast amounts of personal data, such as biometrics, is also of great concern to institutions who do not want the catastrophic problems and liability that could result from a data breach.

We believe that Boloro’s ATM-like approach to authentication is ideal for mobile payments, mobile banking and all ID verification.  

  1.  Why is trustworthy digital identity critical for existing and emerging markets?

The world is moving rapidly toward mobile payments and banking, including the migration from cash-based to digital transactions.  We are also seeing a movement away from traditional points of sale and toward e-Commerce, further increasing the need for proper identity validation.  Fraud is rampant in existing and emerging markets, and card-not-present fraud continues to climb steadily.  Financial inclusion through mobile activity is necessary to develop emerging markets and to raise the prospects of those who are unbanked or unbanked in all markets.  Security that is both bullet-proof and user-friendly is absolutely critical to the future of mobile payments and banking, as well as e-Commerce, and security starts with a trustworthy digital identity.  

Boloro’s ATM-like, multi-channel and multi-factor approach to authentication avoids the Internet and the Operating System by separating the authentication message (sent via the secure signaling channel of the mobile phone) from the transaction (which is typically via an Internet-based app).

Boloro’s process allows you to proactively protect yourself. Boloro is compatible with any mobile phone, and a user-friendly, instantaneous way to protect your identity and to eliminate fraud.

  1. How will digital identity transform the Canadian and global economy? How does Boloro address challenges associated with this transformation?

Digital identity is the foundation of proper security, which is essential for all forms of mobile payments, mobile banking and e-Commerce.

Governments, financial institutions and others need secure, user-friendly and cost-effective ways to ensure the identity of those participating in all forms of financial activity, and Boloro is directly addressing these challenges by providing technology that is easy to adopt and compatible with any mobile phone, regardless of the manufacturer, allowing for uniform deployment.

As referenced above, Boloro’s ATM-like, multi-channel and multi-factor approach avoids the Internet and separates authentication from the transaction, putting real security in your own hands.  Only you have your physical phone, and only you know your memorized PIN, which you enter into a flash text message sent via the secure signaling layer of the mobile carrier (away from the Internet and Operating System) to authenticate the applicable activity before it is processed.

  1.  What role does Canada have to play as a leader in the space?

Canada should be promoting thought leadership in this space, focusing attention on best of breed technologies such as Boloro that can provide ID verification and transaction validation.

  1.  Why did Boloro join the DIACC?

DIACC’s President recently saw a demonstration of Boloro’s technology and invited Boloro to join its organization. Boloro is proud to be a member of DIACC and to be working with DIACC to further thought leadership in the crucial areas of identity validation and transaction verification.  We see DIACC as a global leader in this space and want to work actively with DIACC on these initiatives.

  1.   What else should we know about Boloro?

Boloro is committed to identity verification through the use of the mobile phone number and memorized PIN as unique identifiers, as well as the separation of authentication from the transaction, and Boloro wants to use this commitment as a foundation to promoting financial inclusion, transparency and fraud prevention.

In addition to identity verification and transaction validation, Boloro’s patented authentication and mobile payments technology includes a complete settlement and reconciliation report that can be used to develop a credit history for individuals that can become the basis for establishing traditional banking and credit relationships.

Year in Review: 3 Key Accomplishments and Insights Delivered through DIACC

 Over the past 12 months, our community of digital identity solutions and services experts and enthusiasts grew larger and stronger than ever. We’re proud to bring diverse individuals and organizations together to collaborate and advance digital identity. Our work throughout the year has focused on making strides in interoperability, innovation, and outreach for digital identification solutions.

“We’re collaborating to reach digital Canada and that goal makes digital ID even more desperately needed,” says Joni Brennan, President of the DIACC. “DIACC membership growth is a good indication of value in terms of the insights we’re delivering and who’s participating.”

As we reflect on our proudest accomplishments over the past year, we are excited to start 2018 with even more strategic understanding of what’s possible and what’s critical as we move toward an ecosystem of digital ID solutions and services that respect Canadians while unlocking the benefits of the digital economy.

2017 Key Accomplishments and Insights

  1. Driving Industry Impact

    Innovation Paper: Digital ID and Authentication for Civic Engagement

In collaboration with Placespeak, we published an Innovation Paper on Digital ID and Authentication for Civic Engagement. This case study helped raise the need for anonymous

authentication for digital citizen engagement. Anonymous authentication is the process by which a user is authenticated but, unless explicit permission is granted, the service and provider they are interacting with cannot access their identity.

The ability to confirm a person’s geographic location without identification is crucial for governments seeking reliable information to drive insightful policy development. This Innovation Paper illustrated the essential and exciting opportunities that digital identity can produce to enhance democracy in a digital world.

Key Insight:

DIACC members gain value through Innovation Papers by working with us to raise visibility on specific issues and industry use cases while linking research, trends, and member services. Together we build a more robust understanding of the implications of a truly interoperable digital identity and illuminate broader possibilities in the Canadian landscape.

Have an idea for an Innovation Paper? Share your idea!

  1. Exploring New Technology Applications

    Proof of Concept: Blockchain for Corporate Registries

The Proof of Concept: Making the Blockchain Work for Corporate Registries enabled the Province of British Columbia and IBM to collaborate to better understand blockchain technology and specifically, viability of the Hyperledger standard. The multi stakeholder team established a narrow scope and strong foundational question before convening for an intensive workshop. They asked: Can blockchain provide value in the world of corporate registries and what might it look like in practice?

They discovered that it’s difficult for corporate registries to share, access, and view data because each registry has different technologies and policies in place.Through the Proof of Concept, participants recognized that blockchain and Hyperledger can solve this issue by allowing disparate systems (in this case, registries) to speak to each other without having to change legacy systems or harmonize policies. They created an open source solution that enables provinces to evolve at their own discretion and pace, while taking advantage of the benefits of data visibility across registries.

Key Insight:

Application-focused exercises that use new technologies provide DIACC member value by amplifying resources to test viability and unlock significant learnings. The Proof of Concept has been picked up across Canada and by analysts in Europe, including KuppingerCole,who noted the scalability and applicability of this use of blockchain for registries around the world.

What Proof of Concept would you like to see in 2018? Let us know!

  1. Collaborative Co-Creation

    Digital ID Design Challenge: Electronic State of Title Certificates

The Digital Identity Design Challenge: eSTC was our first Digital Identity Design Challenge (DIDC) and it was a great success. DIACC partnered with IdentityNORTH, Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA), and Blockchain at UBC to craft a challenge specific to the real estate market. The LTSA wanted to explore how the intersection of blockchain and identity could help with access to electronic state of title certificates.

DIACC was thrilled to engage people from inside and outside of the typical digital identity community to connect knowledge and highlight new approaches. The contest piqued the interest of students and entrepreneurs from Canada, China, and Europe. Judgement criteria was set for three industry experts and the IdentityNORTH Western Forum audience to cast their votes and select a winner. In the end, Noah Bouma, a first year student at University of Calgary, won for his user-friendly, thoughtful, and framework-driven solution.

Key Insight:

The collaboration from beginning to end of the Digital ID Design Challenge delivered market research while creating new connections across industries and sectors. The DIDC delivered value to business, government, and citizen-consumers through targeted resource sharing and the benefits were reflected by the enthusiastic community participation.

Would you like to propose, mentor, or judge a DIACC DIDC? Get in touch!

 

Moving Forward Together: 2018 Leaders take the Lead

The DIACC is committed to creating even more opportunities for members to share their vision, progress, and expertise to make an impact. As the world defines the role that digital identity can play in every facet of our lives, Canada can emerge as a leader. To drive this change, we’re launching two new committee forums in 2018. The Innovation Expert Committee and Outreach Expert Committee will connect members to advance the profile of digital identity in Canadian tech innovation and digital policy development.

“Blockchain, tokenization, and other technologies are driving a new phase in digital identity innovation that asks: What do networks for identity look like, and how will they be secure, privacy-respecting, and convenient for Canadians – in terms of the technologies used and in terms of transparent governance?”  Brennan says of digital identity trends that will shape 2018. “It’s an exciting evolution in how we solve digital identity for persons, organizations, and the relationships that matter in between.”

Over the past year, our members have recognized the importance of digital identity, not only for its economic value, but for the incredible societal enrichment it can drive. At the DIACC, we amplify messages, ideas, and interoperability guidance to realize functionality, enable implementation, and leave room to innovate. By working together, we’re excited to continue generating new opportunities and insights that support Canadian principled digital identity innovation and leadership with the world.

 

Spotlight on UXP Systems

In this edition of the Spotlight, we chat with DIACC members UXP Systems,  a provider of a User Lifecycle Management platform.  We highlight how their work fits with and can help drive the vision of a pan-Canadian digital identity ecosystem.

1. What is the mission and vision of UXP Systems?

UXP Systems’ User Lifecycle Management platform provides an evolutionary approach traditional integrated asset management (IAM) systems to enable contextual relationships between users and their digital devices and services. User Lifecycle Management (ULM) digitally models – on a fine grain basis – real-world human interconnections for virtually any digital offering and enables the workflows and journeys for users to create these relationships. Our vision is to enable the emerging world of omni-digital engagement, connected life/IOT, and digital transformation via User Lifecycle Management, powering any user to securely onboard, access, delegate, revoke, and manage any digital service and share various elements of those services with users around them.

2. Why is trustworthy digital identity critical for existing and emerging markets?

Access to digital services has evolved from being a “nice to have” to being the preferred mode of access for millions of people across a wide range of offerings over the past several years. In fact, many modern services are only available through digital access and are used regularly – forming an important part of a growing number of people’s daily lives around the world. Everything from parking your car, to banking, to healthcare services can be engaged digitally, providing easy access to these services that need to be secure and trusted. As UXP Systems adds User Lifecycle Management capabilities to digital services, the contextual interrelationships between users, other users, devices, and digital services must be modeled on a fine grain basis, in a secure, validated, and trusted manner. Moreover, privacy by design must be enabled for every user as the digital ID generates valuable data about the people they interact with, the devices they use, and the services they access.

3. How will Digital ID transform the Canadian and global economy?

As companies and governments in Canada and elsewhere transform their operations with digitization, the need to serve individuals and organizations through robust and secure identities will also grow. Digital identities will be used for activities across a wide range of goods and services, from public to private, bringing value across a wide range of business types, from financial services, to travel, healthcare, retail, and others. These capabilities greatly reduce the friction and requirement of human interaction and support in service transactions of all sizes, reducing cost and improving access to address markets of virtually any type. In addition, the scope of digital identity is not geographically bound, and we see numerous opportunities for use in cities, across provinces and ultimately across country boundaries as the need for globally interoperable identity schemes should grow. In short, Digital ID provides a truly global economic opportunity for Canadian enterprises.

4. What role does Canada have to play as a leader?

Canada is already viewed around the world as a trusted leader in driving fair and balanced personal privacy policy and regulation and we believe this provides a strong foundation for Canadian companies to provide leadership in identity and user management technologies as well. As a private Canadian company founded in Toronto, UXP Systems currently powers digital identity at some of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, including Vodafone, Liberty Global, Cable & Wireless, and TELIA. With multiple patents around ULM, UXP Systems has established itself as the leader and pioneer in user identity and entitlement management and we are excited to continue to drive innovations from Canada that we export to the rest of the world.

5. Why did UXP Systems join DIACC?

As the use of digital services continues to grow, so do the choices of technology and methods to verify and authorize digital identity. While it’s great to have choices, there is an increasing need to have trusted standards for interoperability so that digital services of different types can securely interact and process transactions. We see the objectives and progress that DIACC is making toward identity standards in Canada to be refreshing, encouraging, and greatly needed.

The UXP Systems’ ULM platform brings multi-dimensionality to user identity through the complex relationships between users and organizations. These rich and powerful capabilities will thrive in an environment where identities of different types in different places can securely interact, and we see the work of DIACC and its members making positive steps toward this vision. We are proud to be part of this progress.

 

DIACC to Publish Use Cases

Illustrating Everyday Applications for Standardized Digital Identification and Services in the Digital Economy

Digital ID and authentication is a critical component of our hyper-connected, always-on world and digital business landscape. Unfortunately, many citizen-consumers, business leaders, and policymakers still do not understand the scope and importance of this technology. As the Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) works to advance Canada’s digital identity ecosystem, use cases will be developed as a method to build awareness and enhance understanding in this crucial area of the digital economy.

Use cases underline the concrete applications and future advancements  that will rely on digital identification and authentication. They will become a regular component of the DIACC’s Interoperability Program and will be published in collaboration with council members.

These scenario-driven documents connect the importance of ID security, convenience, and Privacy by Design, as well as member initiatives to the broader conversation on the digital economy. They will ground the work of the DIACC members in situations that are tangible and relatable for Canadians. Focused on both individual and organisational levels, use cases will bridge gaps in understanding by centering the role of verifiable digital Identification of people, organisations, and relationships between each in daily interactions.

Co-creation with our members, who are leading experts in the field and who approach digital ID from diverse public, private, and academic perspectives, will ensure that different industries, communities, and technological developments are captured and accurately presented.

Goals:

Use cases crystallize the real-world relevance of digital ID and authentication standards and technology for citizen-consumers, media, and the broader ecosystem in Canada.

Structure:

To put forward a topic or industry-focus for a use case, please email info@diacc.ca and include:

  • Use case description
  • Industry
  • Economic impact
  • Development commitment and/or data contributions

Spotlight on VIVVO

In this edition of the Spotlight, we chat with DIACC members VIVVO, secure eGovernment Platform providers. We highlight how their work fits with and can help drive the vision of a pan-Canadian digital identity ecosystem.

 

1.What is the mission and vision of Vivvo?

Mission:

To improve citizens’ lives by being a catalyst in the transformation of government digital service delivery. This is accomplished through the delivery of secure, privacy first solutions that provide a citizen-centric focus for government digital services, enabling citizens to conduct their business with government conveniently.

Vision:

Put citizen privacy first and become a leader in enabling government digital transformation while delivering “me-based” software solutions and an efficient consent-based eGov model for government.

2. Why is trustworthy digital identity critical for existing and emerging markets?

Trustworthy digital identity is the cornerstone for any citizen-based digital ecosystem. One key challenge for government is getting services online in a way that provides the same positive experience as the private sector, while ensuring the utmost in privacy and security. A trusted identity allows government to confidently move their service delivery model to the least expensive channel – digital.

Today governments typically deliver services by program area. This internal facing approach to delivery results in unnecessary duplication of cost and effort. It also creates a frustrating citizen experience. For government, the opportunity to leverage a highly trusted identity ecosystem is important for facilitating the delivery of services in a citizen centric and consent-based manner.

Additionally, the operational benefits across the enterprise can be significant when adopting a digital first strategy. A trusted identity is the centerpiece to help governments transition their operations to digital. It’s also the core to providing the channel option citizens desire the most when acquiring government services – digital.

3. What strategic goals does Vivvo hope to achieve in the next 3 years?

  1. Positive growth in the global market for cloud based identity and digital experience solutions for government.
  2. Continue to have a positive impact on government digital service delivery in North America by expanding our CitizenOne offering to other major Canadian and US jurisdictions.
  3. Be a major contributor to the ecosystem, enabling digital transformation for government by working with likeminded partners to solve today and tomorrow’s service delivery challenges.
  4. To “right size” our offerings based on the differing needs of the three major levels of government; Federal, Provincial/State and Municipal.

Why did Vivvo join DIACC?

Joining DIACC was an easy choice for us. Some of the main reasons include;

  1. Dramatic shifts in technology and accompanying approaches over the past decade have paved the way for IT service providers to partner around their core competencies and services. This inclusive, win/win mindset, creates more opportunity for all parties involved. We see DIACC as an organization that brings like-minded organizations together for the common good and this is in line with Vivvo’s corporate values.
  2. With digital identity at the heart of our CitizenOne eGov platform, we feel it’s very important to keep abreast of the positive work taking place in Canada. We believe DIACC is a great vehicle for collaboration and understanding how we as an industry can create the best experience for our clients.
  3. We love and use innovative, value based approaches for solving problems. DIACC brings many diverse types of organizations together to drive a deeper understanding of the challenges and the innovative solutions required to solve them.
  4. We embrace collaboration and want to be part of an industry organization that aligns to our core values. DIACC represents that opportunity for us.

What else should we know about Vivvo?

Vivvo has been delivering our flagship service, CitizenOne, to the Government of Saskatchewan since September of 2016.
Vivvo sees the citizen’s identity as the cornerstone of a consent-based, privacy by design delivery model. We also believe the positive digital experience citizens encounter in the private sector should be available when interacting with government.
Vivvo’s CitizenOne eGov platform is a powerful solution that enables and enhances citizens access to digital services from a consolidated government marketplace. It provides access to all digital services with a single identity in a privacy first, consent based model.

  1. Helps governments meet their operational efficiency targets by reducing siloed, duplicate technology and service delivery spending.
  2. Secures the citizen’s information and delivers enhanced privacy controls to the citizen by providing the ability to opt into the use of a digital service and revoke their consent at any time.
  3. Allows governments to deliver citizen facing services at scale, incrementally, in a cost-effective model.
  4. Allows a citizen or business to do more of their digital business with government from one convenient login.
  5. Allows each service provider to “bring their own policy” that a citizen must accept to access the specific service through the digital channel.
  6. Provides a solution for digital identity proofing, secure authentication and improved access controls to ensure sensitive government services are delivered conveniently and securely.
  7. Federated identity model that can integrate with existing legacy applications as well as net-new services (SaaS or on premise).
  8. Deployed at the Enterprise level, CitizenOne provides a platform for service providers to onboard over time (eliminating risk and cost associated with the big bang approach).
  9. Provides secure 2-way messaging to the citizen’s device of choice that greatly improves communication and achieves cost efficiencies while ensuring citizen privacy. Consolidates program specific messages and other communications into one secure, private, easy to access location. C1 also helps provide a common look and feel across citizen communication, for all government services.
  10. Greatly improves communication and achieves additional cost efficiencies by providing a mechanism for proactively communicating service request information to citizens.
  11. Vivvo utilizes multiple data sources and partners with industry leaders to ensure the person on the other end of the transaction is who they say they are. Examples include Provincial Driver Licence issuers, Corporate Registries, and SecureKey Concierge. We also welcome the opportunity to partner with third party integration experts.
  12. CitizenOne is fully integrated with SecureKey Concierge, offering enhanced authentication and industry leading identity proofing capabilities.

Vivvo works with our customers and partners to deliver innovative and unique approaches to enabling government transformation in a financially sustainable manner. Vivvo provides a privacy first, highly cost effective, low risk platform for the delivery of digital transformation programs.
Visit us at www.vivvo.com

Is Blockchain the Answer to Corporate Registries in Canada?

Digital ID & Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC), IBM Canada, and the Province of British Columbia identify significant potential for blockchain for corporate registries

Watch the Video | Read the Paper | Get the Code

Toronto June 6, 2017 – Recognizing the challenges that governments and businesses across the country face in managing multi-jurisdiction corporate registrations, IBM Canada and the Province of British Columbia, under the neutral governance of the DIACC, today released a Proof of Concept (POC) companion paper outlining a potential framework to enable more secure, effective, and efficient corporate registrations – both within a single province and across multiple jurisdictions.

“By collaborating with IBM Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the DIACC we developed a demonstration of blockchain technology to enable a shared cross-province log of corporate registry actions that could be securely accessed by registries staff to gain visibility to the data for a single incorporated business across provincial silos,” said Joni Brennan, President of the DIACC. “This POC is unique in that it represents an opportunity to experiment and innovate in a neutral forum, and to connect the strategic contexts of business identities with that of personal identities considering the functions performed when moving from physical to digital processes.”

“Security, efficiency and client service are important considerations when creating and maintaining corporate registry information for corporations that extend beyond a single province,” said John Ouilette, IBM Canada Project Manager. “With blockchain, there is an enormous amount of potential to achieve efficiencies and create new opportunities and business models that never existed before.”

The Corporate Registry POC leverages the Hyperledger Fabric, a blockchain framework and one of the Hyperledger projects hosted by The Linux Foundation. Hyperledger Fabric offers a decentralized and cryptographically secure model to record and share transactional information. The technology also prevents modification of information, or “blocks”, recorded in the system. Further developments of the POC will maintain an open-standards based approach.

Hyperledger Fabric offers a decentralized and cryptographically secure model to record and share transactional information. The technology also prevents modification of information, or “blocks”, recorded in the system. Further developments of the POC will maintain an open-standards based approach.

Detailed installation instructions for both a local installation and a cloud installation can be found at: https://github.com/DIACC/POC-corporate-registries

Looking to learn more? View the POC video here.

About DIACC
Created as a result of the federal government’s Task Force for the Payments System Review, the DIACC is a non-profit coalition of public and private sector leaders committed to developing a Canadian digital identification and authentication framework to enable Canada’s full and secure participation in the global digital economy. DIACC members include representatives from both the federal and provincial levels of government as well as private sector leaders.

The DIACC is a coalition of public and private sector organizations committed to developing a robust, secure, scalable, and privacy enhancing digital identification and authentication ecosystem that will decrease costs for governments, consumers, and business while improving service delivery and driving GDP growth. A made-in- Canada digital identification ecosystem will reflect Canadian values and priorities, and empower Canadians to conduct a wide range of secure online transactions and interactions both domestically and internationally.

DIACC members work together by sharing resources and perspectives to address the needs of the digital transformation through the development of the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework (PCTF). The PCTF is a set of Canadian principled standards that support open government principles and enable Canada’s full and secure participation in the global digital economy. DIACC members collaboratively develop market educating innovation white papers, proof of concepts, and applied research to secure Canada’s full and beneficial participation in the digital economy.

To learn more about the DIACC visit www.DIACC.ca

About the Province of British Columbia
The Province of British Columbia provides services such as education, healthcare, social services and economic development to its 4.6 million residents. Seeking to further economic development, the Government of British Columbia wants to develop innovative public services faster to meet evolving demand and improve its user experience.

To meet the challenge, the province established the BC Developers’ Exchange (BCDevExchange) to take advantage of the innovation of private sector technology companies and entrepreneurs. The BC Developers’ Exchange supports collaboration between government and citizens using open source tools, such as online code repository GitHub and technology such as Hyperledger Fabric (Hyperledger Project).

The province works within the DIACC community to support the establishment of Canadian personal and organizational identity standards and increase its understanding of the technologies which may support the broad adoption of trusted, secure digital services.

Media Enquiries
Krista Pawley
kpawley@DIACC.ca
416-270-9987

DIACC Connects Canada’s ID Story to the World

This week Joni Brennan, our DIACC President, will be sharing “Canada’s Identity Story” with leaders from around the world at the European Identity Conference held in Munich Germany at the 11th annual European Identity Conference (EIC). The abstract of Joni’s May 10th keynote speech is below.  DIACC is proud to share Canada’s story with the world!

Accelerating Canada’s Digital ID Ecosystem Toward a More Trusted Global Digital Economy

Around the world, governments and industries are developing trust frameworks to enable trust worthy digital transactions. The development of the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework (PCTF) is a collaborative approach of the public and private sectors to accelerate Canada’s digital id and authentication ecosystem in the context of the global digital economy.

The PCTF is developed as a collaborative effort of the Digital ID & Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) and the Joint Councils of Canada Identity Management Subcommittee to enable Canada’s full and secure participation in the global digital economy through economic sector innovation and the enablement of modernized digital service delivery.

To meet the demands of the digital transformation, innovative and market driven collaboration is critical to test concepts for viability and to demystify emerging technologies. To address these opportunities, the DIACC develops white papers, proof of concepts, and applied research to inform decision makers from business, legal, and technical audiences on topics including remote identity proofing and blockchain for consumer identity.

Created as a result of the federal government’s Task Force for the Payments System Review, the DIACC is a non-profit coalition of public and private sector leaders committed to developing a Canadian digital identification and authentication framework to enable Canada’s full and secure participation the global digital economy. DIACC members include representatives from both the federal and provincial levels of government as well as private sector leaders.

Innovation Agenda – DIA

The Government’s Innovation Agenda Success Depends Upon Digital ID and Authentication

Digital ID and authentication are the rails upon which the digital economy runs. With the government’s announcement of an increased focus on innovation and digital government, the need for a secure, privacy-enhancing pan-Canadian digital id and authentication framework is more critical than ever.

While many people do not think about it, secure and trusted digital id and authentication are critical to achieving much of the government’s innovation vision. Everything from personal identification to register for programs and receive benefits, to the authentication of corporations for international trade and financing – digital ID and authentication are essential to a safe, secure, and accountable digital economy.

We are encouraged by the government’s announcement of increased investments in Canadian innovation, particularly in supporting technologies that enable all Canadians to access and benefit from the global digital economy, including the expansion of digital government initiatives.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Canadian government – and all government and private sector partners, to build a digital id and authentication framework that enables Canada to achieve its potential as a global leader in innovation and technology.

– Joni Brennan
President, DIACC

 

About the DIACC

About the Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC)

Created as a result of the federal government’s Task Force for the Payments System Review, the DIACC is a non-profit coalition of public and private sector leaders committed to developing a Canadian digital identification and authentication framework to enable Canada’s full and secure participation the global digital economy. DIACC members include representatives from both the federal and provincial levels of government as well as private sector leaders.

The DIACC’s objective is to unlock societal and economic opportunities for Canadian consumers, and businesses by providing the framework to develop a robust, secure, scalable and privacy enhancing digital identification and authentication ecosystem that will decrease costs for governments, consumers, and business while improving service delivery and driving GDP growth.

Innovation Paper – Digital Citizen Engagement

Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada a Publishes a Member Submitted Innovation White Paper Discussing Digital Citizen Engagement

Digital Identity Authentication and Online Citizen Engagement, by PlaceSpeak

Read the Paper

TORONTO-March 21, 2017 –  The Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC), a non-profit coalition of public and private sector leaders committed to developing a Canadian digital identification and authentication framework, today announced the publication of the innovation white paper, “Digital Identity Authentication and Online Citizen Engagement” by DIACC member PlaceSpeak, an award-winning location-based citizen engagement platform.  

Drawing upon DIACC’s Proof of Concept on Levels of Proof of Residency, this innovation white paper explores how the advance of internet and information communications technology (ICTs) has had a significant impact on the online democratic process, and explains how digital identity authentication and proof of residency are employed to ensure legitimate, defensible engagement. This paper shares the experience and learnings of DIACC Member PlaceSpeak.

Governments and organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of digital identity authentication and verification as imperative tools to safely, securely, and accurately modernize the delivery of goods and services. As citizens become increasingly authenticated, combined with checks and balances to ensure security and privacy, there are countless opportunities to further online democratic participation (e.g. citizen engagement, e-voting, etc.)

“The DIACC neutral forum helps to catalyze market forces to develop Made-for-Canada digital identity and authentication standards and innovations for the benefit all Canadians and for the betterment of the global digital economy. DIACC members have the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience help advance this vision.  We’re pleased to share the perspectives of DIACC member PlaceSpeak as a contributor to a diverse and growing marketplace” said Joni Brennan, President of the DIACC.

“We are encouraged that the DIACC recognizes the need to authenticate the online public input process,” said Colleen Hardwick, Founder and CEO of PlaceSpeak. “PlaceSpeak has been a member of DIACC since 2012, and we look forward to working together to advance the concept and practice of legitimate citizen engagement to solve the problem of declining public trust.”

 

 

###

 

About Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada Innovation White Papers

DIACC innovation white papers explore use cases and experiences that focus on current issues and opportunities in emerging identity markets. DIACC innovation white papers are guided by the DIACC’s ten Digital ID & Authentication ecosystem principles and by the priorities of DIACC members.

DIACC innovation white papers are intended to provide insights to business, legal, and technical general audiences on issues related to digital ID and authentication in Canada and around the world. DIACC innovation papers are not endorsements and do not represent a qualified organization opinion of the DIACC.

 

About Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC)

Created as a result of the federal government’s Task Force for the Payments System Review, the DIACC is a non-profit coalition of public and private sector leaders committed to developing a Canadian digital identification and authentication framework to enable Canada’s full and secure participation the global digital economy. DIACC members include representatives from both the federal and provincial levels of government as well as private sector leaders.

The DIACC’s objective is to unlock economic opportunities for Canadian consumers, and businesses by providing the framework to develop a robust, secure, scalable and privacy enhancing digital identification and authentication ecosystem that will decrease costs for governments, consumers, and business while improving service delivery and driving GDP growth. To learn more visit www.diacc.ca or follow us on Twitter @mydiacc

 

About PlaceSpeak

PlaceSpeak is a pioneering location-based citizen engagement platform that solves the problem of how to consult with people online within specific geographical boundaries. Developed with the support of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC-IRAP), PlaceSpeak has expanded across Canada, into the USA, UK and Australia. For more information, please visit http://placespeak.com.

Media Contact

info@diacc.ca

Spotlight on Safran Identity & Security

logo_safran_rvb

In this edition of the DIACC member Spotlight, we chat with experts from Safran Identity & Security. Learn about their work, why they believe trustworthy digital identification is critical for existing and emerging markets, and why they joined the DIACC league of experts.

Safran Identity & Security (formerly known as Morpho) is a global leader in security and identity solutions, deploying solutions in more than 100 countries.

We employ more than 8,700 people in 57 countries and generated revenues of nearly €1.9 billion in 2015. Backed by more than 40 years of experience in biometrics, the company develops innovative technologies for a wide range of markets and applications for people, governments and business.

Our solutions manage identities, secure payments and transactions and safeguard privacy, for an increasingly digital and connected world. 

 

  1.  What is the mission and vision of Safran Identity and Security?

Our mission is: “make everyday lives easier and safer”.

Our vision is: “trusted identities in a connected world”, enabling secure identification and transactions.

Safran Identity & Security supports governments and leading companies in overcoming the major security and identity challenges inherent in their digital transformation:

  • Establish the trust users need to adopt digital services,
  • Ensure digital security, protect sensitive data and applications,
  • Fight against fraud, identity theft,
  • Comply with regulations (e.g. Know Your Customer, Strong Customer Authentication in PSD2…),
  • Improve and streamline user experience, make security convenient.

in order to achieve a common goal: combining biometrics and digital solutions to make life safer and easier for everyone.

 

  1. Why is trustworthy digital identity critical for existing and emerging markets?

The introduction of digital technologies into existing markets has profoundly altered our approach to data security, drastically reducing identity theft as well as introducing new identity solutions.

Using Safran’s fingerprint, face, and iris recognition technologies and expertise, governments and service providers guarantee access to services and fight fraud by safeguarding citizen and user identities, a fundamental privilege of democratic society.

Our solutions have notably contributed to the massive deployment of the Aadhaar program in India. By providing an acknowledged and secure identity tied to biometric data, all citizens can now access vital services like education and healthcare, enabling government and companies to establish and manage trustworthy personal digital identities.

 

  1. What strategic goals does Safran Identity and Security target to achieve in the next 5-10 years?

Both security and identity markets are healthy and growing. New sectors are turning more towards biometric authentication such as health, banking, retail and the shared economy. As consumer adoption of biometric authentication rapidly spreads in commercial markets, service providers need solutions which are more secure than what is currently available in the average smartphone or tablet. Today’s fingerprint sensors may be sufficient to unlock a smartphone, but are they secure enough to authenticate a large on-line transaction? Not yet. That’s where our role comes in to play. Working for the most demanding customers in this market, like the FBI, has enabled us to develop most sophisticated biometric algorithms in the world, which we are now deploying for commercial giants like Samsung and Visa. This was not the case a year ago.

We are very well positioned to play a key role in developing digital identity across both government and commercial markets. There is a strong need for public-private convergence in this area. We also need to have a shared understanding of the implications in terms of data privacy and protection. And digital identity is not just about people, but applies to objects as well. IoT is massively increasing the amount of data available in the world. Today there are more than 20 billion connected objects, and this number is predicted to triple in just 5 years! As planes, cars, medical equipment or other objects ensure more and more critical functions, there is a pressing need identify those objects or those users remotely accessing them.

Security and trust in the digital world

Safran Identity & Security offers the most comprehensive platform on the market for ensuring security, confidence, convenience and compliance in a multichannel environment:

  • Identity Acquisition and Verification,
  • Adaptive Authentication,
  • Secure Transaction (digital signature and secure archiving),
  • Mobile Payment,
  • Mobile Shopping,
  • Mobile Security.

Strong Authentication for a digital future

As people and objects become more and more connected, security and authentication have taken on a new dimension. To support the transition from a physical to a digital and mobile world, Safran’s R&D effort is focused on developing innovative digital identity solutions to enable service providers reinforce authentication processes and guarantee secure access to multiple devices and accounts.

Our digital identity solutions, derived from physical identity solutions, represent a major technological breakthrough for every type of authentication procedure. Eliminating the security concerns tied to accessing sensitive information online, users can now store this information digitally for secure access to a full range of services and payment platforms via any authorized mobile device. We also provide an extra layer of protection through biometric authentication (fingerprint, face or iris recognition) to access the device.

Biometric Authentication, as part of a multi-factor authentication strategy

The typical uses and security behaviors that worked at home on a PC are more difficult to apply on the move, where passwords have reached their limits. But, more than ever, we still have to protect our data, transactions and our identity.

Biometrics is one answer: a simple wave of the hand, pressing a finger on a scanner, or looking at a camera for a second is enough to authenticate our identity. Biometrics facilitates the life of users who are increasingly mobile and connected, offering a simple alternative authentication solution to the traditional password and PIN.

 

  1. Why did Safran Identity and Security join DIACC?

DIACC is the leading organization in Canada promoting values and principles for the Canadian digital identity ecosystem. International and open standard protocols are keys for the successful integration and development of technologies aiming to secure and protect customer’s identity information. Safran Identity & Security recognizes the important role played by DIACC to establish a secure, trusted, privacy-respective digital ID ecosystem in the region, and wants to be a main participant involved in developing the digital ID and authentication framework for Canada.

 

  1. What else should we know about Safran Identity and Security?

Safran Identity & Security has been acquired by Advent International.

Advent, who is also the parent company of Oberthur Technologies/OT, will combine the two companies to create a world champion in identification technologies and digital security. The clear aim is an alliance of equals, as we have complementary strengths that would enable us to develop stronger market positions. The two companies have balanced portfolios: this includes OT’s experience in digital embedded security, as well as our own expertise in biometrics, identity and public security. The future, combined entity would operate in four key markets: banking, payment, identity and security.

Technology and innovation are an integral part of our DNA, and this will not change in the future. Advent’s commitment would help us preserve our technological leadership and develop in dynamic areas like biometrics, authentication, embedded security for IoT, video and data analytics, etc. Through innovation in dynamic areas, we will preserve our longstanding heritage as a leader in both security and identity markets.

http://www.safran-group.com/security

« Older Entries