Monthly Archives: August 2024

The Digital Identification and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) Written Submission for the 2025 Pre-Budget Consultations

Submitted by: Joni Brennan, President

List of recommendations

  • Recommendation 1: That the government prioritize digital trust in four areas critical to Canada’s leadership and the privacy, security and protection of our people and industries, including:
    • Digital Trust in Citizen Services;
    • Digital Trust in Finance and Regulatory
    • Digital Trust in Public Safety; and
    • Digital Trust in Business and Industry
  • Recommendation 2: That the government recognize the necessity of embracing and prioritizing privacy-protecting verification and authentication tools as part of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy.
  • Recommendation 3: That the government allocate the funding needed to support the adoption of digital trust tools to the benefit of government, businesses, and citizens alike.

Introduction

The spread of misinformation is evolving around the world at a concerning pace. Bad actors are finding new battlegrounds and frontiers every day, and information and images generated by AI are being used to push political agendas and false narratives, scam and steal money and identities, and, even worse, lure online. 

Similarly, AI is also evolving rapidly, with risks as significant as the benefits. Further, now that AI is generative, users can manipulate images and information at unprecedented speed and scale, and vast amounts of inaccurate and malicious information make it difficult for people and organizations to verify information authenticity.

In today’s era of information warfare, authenticity and verification must be prioritized — particularly given the role of digital trust and identity verification in the delivery of government and business services.

Our submission and recommendations reflect the deep experience and expertise of DIACC’s member organizations, and our collective commitment to working with leaders in both the public and private sectors to secure verifiable information authenticity to the benefit of government, industry, and citizens alike by prioritizing inclusive and accessible privacy-protecting digital trust and verification capabilities.

About DIACC

The Digital Identification and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) was created following the federal government’s Task Force for the Payments System Review, with a goal to bring together public and private sector partners in developing a safe and secure digital ecosystem.

DIACC is guided by a belief that our public safety, civic engagement, and economic prosperity depend on leveraging trusted solutions and using well-established risk mitigation and certification tools. DIACC is committed to accelerating digital trust adoption and reducing information authenticity uncertainty by certifying services against its Pan-Canadian Trust Framework — a risk mitigation and assurance framework developed collaboratively by public and private sector experts that signals trustworthy design rooted in security, privacy, inclusivity, accessibility, and accountability.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1: That the government prioritize digital trust in four areas critical to Canada’s leadership and the privacy, security and protection of our people and industries, including:

  • Digital Trust in Citizen Services;
  • Digital Trust in Finance and Regulatory;
  • Digital Trust in Public Safety; and
  • Digital Trust in Business and Industry.

Digital Trust in Citizen Services

DIACC advocates for digital trust in citizen services, emphasizing the importance of secure, privacy-respecting, and user-centric solutions through collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society. Leveraging our collaborative partnerships, we developed the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework (PCTF) – a risk mitigation and assurance framework that extends standards and open source code to help service providers ensure risk mitigation and user care.

As public services continue to move online, digital trust and verification services will be critical for ensuring that services are secure and accessible. From online healthcare consultations to digital government services, these technologies provide the necessary security infrastructure to protect public interactions and data.

Through partnerships with organizations such as DIACC, the government is encouraged to prioritize innovation in digital trust technologies through pilot projects, research, and education. Collaboration with various sectors will ensure the development and implementation of secure, efficient, inclusive, and accessible digital trust solutions, fostering a reliable digital ecosystem for accessing healthcare, banking, and government services.

Digital Trust in Finance and Regulatory

Canadians benefit from being a highly banked jurisdiction with broad inclusivity and accessibility – according to the Canadian Bankers Association, approximately 99 per cent of Canadian adults have a bank account.

Existing financial regulations provide powerful and internationally recognized tools that act as a solid foundation to fight fraud and foster a more verified, authentic, and trustworthy ecosystem that supports the needs of people, governments, and businesses alike. However, the government is encouraged to build on the existing regulatory framework and develop new regulations to facilitate secure digital transactions, including compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations.

Further, digital trust and verification services will be critical as the government moves forward with its commitments to open-banking, with interoperability also being paramount as the federal framework and existing provincial frameworks work together.

Similarly, the government has committed to reducing incidents of mortgage fraud and strengthening proof of borrower and title insurance, and digital trust and verification services can and should play a critical role in making that commitment a reality.

Digital Trust in Public Safety

DIACC believes that implementing digital trust and verification services are essential for enhancing public safety. Digital verification can play a crucial role in protecting vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

By ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive areas such as schools, healthcare facilities, and care homes, digital trust services can help safeguard these groups from potential harm. Further, digital trust and verification services enable secure and reliable cross-border identity verification, facilitating international collaboration in law enforcement, disaster response, and public health.

By prioritizing advanced authentication methods that ensure individuals and organizations are who they claim to be, we can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information and critical infrastructure, minimize financial scams and misuse of personal data, and enhance public safety for all Canadians.

Digital Trust in Business and Industry

Enhanced security is a primary benefit of digital trust and verification services for businesses and industries. These services provide robust security measures that protect businesses from fraud, identity theft, and cyber threats. Ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information and resources, these services help maintain the integrity of business operations.

By prioritizing digital trust in business and industry and implementing authentication and verification tools, the government can help drive the following benefits:

  • streamlined business processes by automating identity verification and reducing the need for manual checks;
  • faster, more efficient operations and reduced administrative costs, allowing businesses to allocate resources more effectively;
  • data minimization and the secure handling of personal information, increasing customer confidence;
  • a competitive advantage for Canadian businesses by helping them innovate and offer their customers new, secure digital services; and
  • a reduction in incidents of fraud, resulting in significant cost savings for businesses. These savings can be reinvested into other business areas, driving growth and innovation and improving overall business performance.

Recommendation 2: That the government recognize the necessity of embracing and prioritizing verification and authentication tools as part of its AI strategy.

In today’s world, where AI is becoming smarter every day, and information can be generated and manipulated at unprecedented speed and scale, ensuring the accuracy and trustworthiness of information is critical. It is vital to maximize the benefits of an AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)-fueled data ecosystem for Canada while also fostering citizen trust and protecting their safety.

To effectively address the challenges we’re facing while realizing the benefits of AI, the federal government should prioritize verification and authentication tools as part of its broader AI strategy. Prioritization must include funding, collaboration, and urgent action to support the development, adoption and certification of tools that verify information authenticity while protecting privacy and empowering Canadians. Governments, banks, telcos, tech companies, media organizations, and civil society must work together to deploy open, standards-based solutions and services to verify the authenticity of information.

The economic imperative of investing in these capabilities is clear. According to a study by Deloitte, the Canadian economy could unlock an additional 7 per cent (CAD $7 trillion) in economic value through AI and AGI technologies. People and organizations can only realize this potential for the good of society by investing in tools, processes, and policies that support verifying the authenticity of the information generated and processed by AI and AGI technologies.

Recommendation 3: That the government allocate the funding needed to support the adoption of digital trust tools to the benefit of government, businesses, and citizens alike.

Today, solutions can signal verified trust by getting certified against a technology-neutral risk and assurance framework like DIACC’s Pan-Canadian Trust Framework, developed collaboratively by public and private sector experts.

Verifiable information authenticity relies on critical principles, including provenance and traceability: provenance establishes the origin and history of information, ensuring it comes from a reliable source, while traceability allows for audibility of the flow of information, enabling people, businesses, and governments to verify its accuracy and authenticity. These principles are essential in combating the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which can have far-reaching consequences in an AI-fueled world.

Provenance and traceability are potent information authenticity tools that can help:

  • businesses and professionals reduce liabilities and meet obligations to verify information about their clients and their operations;
  • citizens and residents interact securely and efficiently with governments;
  • customers and clients transact with privacy and security anywhere, anytime;
  • industries manage decision-making and securely supply chains using trusted data;
  • producers verify essential data related to environmental, safety, and operational goals and
  • creators track intellectual property to ensure fair payment and cultural protection.

Conclusion

Our public safety, civic engagement, and economic prosperity depend on leveraging trusted solutions, well-established risk mitigation and certification tools, and powerful collaboration to ensure regulations set informed guardrails that put people’s benefits, protections and agency to control data at the center of the design. The evolving AI-fueled information landscape presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities for innovation and progress. By prioritizing verifiable information authenticity, inclusive and accessible solutions,  and investing in digital trust, we can ensure that people and organizations realize the benefits of AI and AGI while mitigating its risks

Thank you once again for the opportunity to provide our input in advance of Budget 2025 and as we collectively move forward on the path to a digitally and economically prosperous Canada.

DIACC Unveils New Board of Directors to Champion Digital Trust and Verification in Canada and the Global Digital Economy

Toronto, Ontario – August 6, 2024: DIACC is thrilled to announce the appointment of its Board of Directors following the recent election at DIACC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 27, 2024, where renowned leaders and visionaries from various sectors converged.

“On behalf of the DIACC Board, I am thrilled to welcome our newly elected and re-elected board members,” said Dave Nikolejsin, Chair of the DIACC Board. Their expertise and dedication are invaluable as we advance digital trust in the global digital economy. We will continue to work together to advance a secure, efficient, privacy-respecting, and inclusive digital ecosystem.”

The new and returning Directors bring fresh perspectives and experience-based commitment to DIACC’s mission. Their leadership will help the council ensure its initiatives align with and influence standards and practices that mitigate security and privacy risks. DIACC’s leadership works collaboratively to support a more inclusive, secure, and efficient global digital economy that benefits people and organizations of all sizes.

This diverse group of leaders joins DIACC’s esteemed roster of Directors, bringing together a wealth of expertise and collective experience crucial in guiding and shaping the future of digital trust, verification, and privacy protection.

DIACC Board of Directors:

  • Chair: Dave Nikolejsin, Independent, Strategic Advisor with McCarthy Tetrault
  • Vice-Chair: Jonathan Cipryk, Vice President & Head of Technology Functions, Manulife *
  • Treasurer: Andre Boysen, Independent 
  • Manish Agarwal, Chief Information Officer, Government of Ontario *
  • Neil Butters, Vice President & Head of Product Architecture, Interac Corp *
  • Mike Cook, CEO, Identos
  • Balraj Dhillon, General Manager of Product Platforms and Channels, Canada Post
  • Giselle D’Paiva, Digital Identity Leader, Government and Public Sector, Deloitte
  • Erin Hardy, General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer, Service New Brunswick *
  • Hesham Fahmy, Chief Information Officer, TELUS
  • Marie Jordan, Senior Director Global Standards Management, VISA
  • Jonathan Kelly, Assistant Deputy Minister for Government Digital Transformation, Province of Quebec
  • Karan Puri, Associate Vice President, TD Bank *
  • CJ Ritchie, Associate Deputy Minister and Government Chief Information Officer, Province of BC
  • Pierre Roberge, Independent

* Indicates newly appointed.

The DIACC Board of Directors works closely with public and private sectors, academia, and civil society stakeholders to foster collaboration, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate the adoption of trustworthy services in the digital services ecosystem.

DIACC is confident that its Board of Directors collective insights and strategic direction will drive significant progress in the digital trust and verification space. Their dedication to fostering innovation and trust in digital services is invaluable as we work towards a future where secure and reliable digital identities are accessible to everyone.

“On behalf of the DIACC Board, I am thrilled to welcome our newly elected and re-elected board members,” said Dave Nikolejsin, Chair of the DIACC Board. “Their expertise and dedication are invaluable as we advance digital trust in the global digital economy. We will continue to work together to advance a secure, efficient, privacy-respecting, and inclusive digital ecosystem.”

“Being re-elected to the DIACC Board of Directors and serving as Vice-Chair is a tremendous honour. It allows me to support identity trust in Canada during these times of rapid technological advancements,” said Jonathan Cipryk, Vice President & Head of Technology Functions at Manulife. “I will use my expertise in technology and security to foster collaboration and drive programs that benefit our community. Together, we can build a future where identity trust and privacy empower individuals and strengthen our digital economy.” 

About the DIACC:

Established in 2012, the DIACC is a non-profit coalition of public and private sector organizations committed to advancing digital trust adoption through initiatives that inform and validate private sector services, enable privacy-protecting trusted exchanges between private and public sector authorities, and foster a robust ecosystem. DIACC enhances global economic prosperity by promoting digital trust, tools and services that verify information about individuals and organizations while protecting privacy.


For inquiries, please contact: communications@diacc.ca