The Challenge
In April 2022, the NSW Government committed to establishing a digital identification for the people of NSW. Digital ID initiatives involve the use of new technology, such as facial verification, to verify an individual’s identity. Done well, this can increase convenience for citizens, reduce risks associated with misidentification, and save money for governments and the private sector. However, this technology brings its own challenges that must be understood and addressed in order to realise the promise of a more secure and effective way of verifying people’s identities.
Project Report
Improving governance and training for the use of facial verification technology in NSW Digital ID.
Collaboration
The project team from the UTS Human Technology Institute collaborated with Service NSW to develop independent expert advice that proposed a governance framework and training strategy to support Service NSW and the Department of Customer Service in developing and rolling out a safe, reliable, and responsible Digital ID system. Working across several Service NSW teams, the project team harnessed the expertise of a range of stakeholders, including technology vendors, independent experts and community members.
Project Team
- Professor Valerie Braithwaite (Emeritus Professor, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University)
- Professor Judy Cashmore AO (Professorial Research Fellow, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney)
- Professor Amy Conley Wright (Professor and Director, Research Centre for Children and Families, University of Sydney)
- Professor Ilan Katz (Professor, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales)
- Professor Lynne McPherson (Chair, Out of Home Care Research and Deputy Director, Centre for Children and Young People, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University)
- A/Professor Tim Moore (Deputy Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University)
- Dr BJ Newton (Scientia Senior Research Fellow, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales)
- Dr Elizabeth Reimer (Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University)
- Bernie Shakeshaft (Founder and Director, Backtrack)
- Jarrod Wheatley OAM (Chairperson, Centre for Relational Care)
- Mandy Young (Board Member, Professional Individualised Care)
- Executives from across the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and the Premier’s Department (Aboriginal Affairs)
In a nutshell
10
Principles identified to support legislation and policy for NSW Digital ID
27
Policymakers and industry experts attended a policy roundtable
6
Australian jurisdictions involved in the policy roundtable
550+
Case studies from Australia and around the world
"As our work evolves, there is great value in having an open conversation with leading experts about the way we deliver this technology to help communities understand the value and assure them of the steps we are taking to build trust in the community around Government services and digital ID initiatives."
The Hon. Jihad Dib MP, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government
"The Institute's Policy Challenge Grant enabled us at the UTS Human Technology Institute to provide the NSW Department of Customer Service with independent expert advice as it seeks to build the best, safest and most secure system for digital ID… The Institute's support also enabled HTI to amplify our impact more widely, including through a successful co-hosted roundtable that brought together industry, community and government experts from jurisdictions across Australia. We are deeply appreciative of the Institute's cooperative, collaborative approach and its like-minded commitment to creating real policy impact for the public good."
Professor Edward Santow, Co-Director, UTS Human Technology Institute
Policy insights
As part of its independent expert advice to the NSW Government, the project team developed ten principles to inform the governance framework for NSW Digital ID, focusing on four key areas: user protections, performance standards, accountability and oversight, and interoperability.
These principles underscore the importance of relying on more than just state-of-the-art technology. Good digital service delivery requires a systems-wide approach, including clear guardrails, effective governance, skilled staff, and placing human rights at the centre of policy design and decision-making.
How we are creating change
In a world characterised by digital disruption, it is vitally important to harness diverse, deep expertise to help policymakers navigate new challenges and opportunities as they emerge. Through extensive engagement with policymakers, this project boosted collaborative relationships for policy development and contributed to building public sector capability in NSW.
The significance of the project’s findings extends well beyond NSW. The NSW Government is a leader in digital government services and is well-placed to share its learnings widely across jurisdictions. That is why the project team organised a policy roundtable with the support of the Institute that brought together representatives from other jurisdictions around Australia to discuss how to collectively build public trust and confidence in digital ID systems.
Tracking progress
11 December 2023
Press Release
Facial verification tech in NSW Digital ID: New report unveils path to enhanced governance and training
11 September 2023
The Conversation
Digital ID will go mainstream across Australia in 2024. Here’s how it can work for everyone
11 December 2023
InnovationAus
Trust and support, not just safety, the keys to child protection success: report
