The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework (DISTF) Act took effect on the first day of the month, and included the establishment and implementation of the Regulator, the Trust Framework Authority. The launch was rather low-key, with the only discernible signal from the Department of Internal Affairs being updates to their digital government web pages to reflect this milestone.
It was a different story in industry, however, where the occasion was covered by DINZ, nationally by RNZ, locally, internationally by Biometric Update and social media posts, including my own and those from DINZ.
The quote that really stuck was this one from Victoria University’s Professor of Informatics Markus Luczak-Roesch: “There’s a huge risk of doing nothing. Which is why it’s good that we’re doing something.” He’s absolutely right. It’s been over seven years of policy work at the DIA to reach this point, which I described as ‘the end of the beginning’. While a challenging journey, Aotearoa can build from here with those that want to opt-in.
Next month’s Digital Trust Hui Taumata ahead of Net Hui and The Point 2024, will kick off with a keynote by Microsoft’s global identity standards lead and past DIACC TFEC member Juliana Cafik. The panel that follows will discuss NZ’s Digital Identity Trust Framework, representing organisations that could be potential Relying Parties/Verifiers in Aotearoa under the DISTF regulation. The Trust Framework market model would see such parties seek out Digital Identity Service Provider/Issuers to deliver privacy-aware, cryptographically secured verified credentials, a topic that I blog about here. Publicly, it’s known that MSD and HNZ are piloting DIA’s platform, with RealMe as a notional issuer.
Additionally, the event will cover Digital Public Infrastructure, AI, biometrics, digital acceptance networks, digital drivers’ licences, the Metaverse, passkeys, digital cash, next generation payments, and the challenges of delegated administration across communities and much more. It’s all there, along with a panel of four experts who will review the sessions from a Te Ao Māori perspective.
In short, this year’s Digital Trust Hui Taumata will be like no other. The wait is over, and the rubber is hitting the road for the DISTF. What matters now is scale – will they come?
Lastly, I’m very excited to tell you that the DINZ podcast series is almost ready for launch so do keep an eye out for the first episode dropping very soon.
Ngā mihi
Colin Wallis
Executive Director, Digital Identity NZ
Read the full news here: Digital Trust Framework: Launch & Future | July Newsletter
