eftpos partners up to trial digital ID solution for Australians with disabilities

A digital ID solution intended to facilitate online identification for persons living with disabilities is currently being tried out in Australia. The trial is the result of a partnership between eftpos and Scope Global, the former announced in a news release.

The solution expanding the capabilities of eftpos’ connectID platform comes as many Australians with disabilities are said to be facing serious challenges trying to identify themselves online, especially given that many transactions have now shifted online due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Stephen Benton, eftpos chief executive officer, said in the news release that the connectID test run targets persons who are blind or visually impaired, those with celebral palsy as well as those who use supportive devices to gain access to digital platforms.

The new platform, Benton added, seeks to provide people with disabilities with the opportunity to easily identify themselves online in order to carry out their online businesses or government-related transactions with ease, and independently.

Apart from just exploring ways of making it easier for people with disabilities to henceforth carry out online digital identification, the pilot of the new solution, the eftpos CEO said, is also meant to “…facilitate identity verification methods to help reduce the instances of fraud and identity theft, and improve ‘digital trust’ between customers and vendors.”

David Travers, Scope Global chairman highlighted the importance of the connectID pilot. “People living with a disability – some 19 percent of the Australian population – encounter significant challenges in identifying themselves in an increasingly online world. The pilot will allow a joint assessment of the market need and commercial opportunity for identity service providers linked to the eftpos ecosystem while designing improved identity verification methods for people with a disability,” he said.

The pilot by eftpos is being implemented by Scope Global’s disability consulting service Maven. The solution is said to be already drawing plaudits from the community of persons with disabilities in Australia.

Scope Global Maven Disability Inclusion Advisor Zel Iscel said she would welcome the new solution because she currently faces a number of challenges trying to identify herself online as a blind person.

“I would absolutely use the technology as it means I can complete what I need to online and wouldn’t have to rely on anyone. Also, if the technology allows for various ways to verify and manage identification, I believe people with disability would use it. We cherish our right for independence, choice and control, and we appreciate opportunities that allow us to exercise these rights,” she was quoted as saying.

Rob Allen, who heads the eftpos initiative, said the solution could also be used for a wide range of consumer needs such as proving one’s age, address or bank account details.

Article Topics

Australia  |  biometrics  |  connect:ID  |  digital identity  |  Eftpos  |  fraud prevention  |  identity verification  |  secure transactions