Next TDIF update to focus on authorisations

The next phase of development of the planned Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) will focus on helping better understand the needs of users who are authorised to act on behalf of others when interacting with government, according to the Digital Transformation Agency’s Shannon Peterson.

In a blog post, Peterson detailed the collaborative and iterative approach that the agency is taking while designing the framework.

“The TDIF was a new concept in Australia and required a lot of investigation into what has already been done,” Peterson said.

“While other trust frameworks focus on a specific context, service or technology, the TDIF is attempting to achieve something no other trust framework in the world has achieved to date — to support the establishment and re-use of a digital identity across many different contexts, systems and environments.”

In order to achieve this, the DTA has been developing a framework tailor made for Australian use, with extensive input from stakeholders and the community.

The DTA has meanwhile been consulting regularly with its counterparts in the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand to identify best practice in countries with similar needs, and has also exchanged ideas with Mexico, Japan, Israel, South Korea and several European countries.

The first components of the framework were released in August 2016, and the DTA has received over 2000 comments on the policy drafts crafted throughout the development of the framework.

The agency recently released a new round of documents and updates for public consultation, which will run until 15 February.

“As we learn more about the needs of users we’ll continue to iterate the TDIF and add additional policies as required. For example, once we finalise the current draft policies we’ll focus on authorisations,” Peterson said.

“Specifically, we’ll start the process to understand the needs of users who act on behalf of others when interacting with government.”

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