On 1 December 2024, the Digital ID Act 2024 will commence and begin the next evolution of Digital ID for the Australian economy. This milestone comes after many years of hard work.
This legislation will strengthen and expand a voluntary accreditation scheme for providers of Digital ID services across the economy. Accredited providers will need to meet a range of privacy, security and other standards and be subject to additional privacy safeguards set out in law.
Australians who choose to use these accredited providers to create and re-use a Digital ID can have confidence knowing their personal information is private, safe and secure.
This legislation will also enable the Commonwealth to partner with states, territories and the private sector to create a better digital experience for all Australians. From commencement, the Australian Government Digital ID System (also known as AGDIS) will begin to expand to include more government services offering to use a Digital ID and, over time, a greater choice of Digital ID providers.
Finance is working with several key agencies across the Commonwealth to deliver this program.
So what’s changing?
- for individuals, there is no change. The Digital ID Act means your accredited Digital ID provider is required by law to protect your information and keep it private
- more government and private sector organisations will be able to apply for accreditation as Digital ID service providers, and if successful display a trustmark
- state and territory government services will also be able to apply to join the Australian Government Digital ID System as a relying service
- private sector entities will be able to apply to participate with the Australian Government Digital ID System by December 2026.
Two new regulators will commence their responsibilities. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will be the Digital ID Regulator, with responsibility for the Accreditation Scheme and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) will have an expanded regulatory role for the privacy aspects of Australia’s Digital ID System.
For more information you can visit Digital ID | Digital ID System.
