CBA general manager for open data, Katherine Sleeth
Australian Payments Plus has launched its identity verification service Connect ID, promising ID checks without sharing “unnecessary data”.
Two of the big banks, Commonwealth Bank and NAB, have gone live with the service. ANZ and Westpac participated in the Connect ID trial over the past year and are strategic partners in the project, but have not confirmed that they will participate.
AP+ said in a media release that it had “strong industry support from other strategic partners” but did not name them or say when other service providers might come online.
Participating businesses include reference checking software provider Referoo, workforce compliance platforms Credenxia and OnePassport, tradie hire website ServiceSeeking, property rental website RentBetter and payments services company Shaype.
When dealing with these companies, CBA and NAB customers have the option of using the data held with the bank for identity verification.
“ConnectID doesn’t see or store personal information. It simply acts as a bridge between an organisation that wants to verify someone’s identity and the organisation providing the verification,” AP+ said.
“This only happens when the customer authorises it. This means ConnectID combines the convenience of real time identity verification with enhanced security and consent.”
It also avoids the need to collect and store customer information, relying on data already held by a “trusted source”. The service is designed to reduce data sharing and give people more control of the data that is used.
CBA general manager for open data, Katherine Sleeth, said in a statement that ConnectID had the potential to simplify customer identification and authentication processes, and it should contribute to greater online safety.
AP+ chief executive Lynn Kraus said the company’s aim was for ConnectID to be part of the government’s proposed digital identity framework. Digital ID legislation was introduced into Parliament yesterday, which will create a regulated digital ID system for Australian government and non-government services.