EP 62: Australia’s Digital ID System, Online Privacy & Security

The Truth Tank

This is episode 62 of The Truth Tank.

On this episode, We will be looking at Australia’s Digital ID System. What is Australia’s digital ID? What does it mean? What does it do? and Why is it being proposed? What’s wrong with good Ol’ fashioned analogue IDs? Digital ID is meant to protect users from oversharing personal information to potential employers, pubs, businesses, proving your ID, getting a passport or filling out a form.

The system is being proposed on the grounds it will make it convenient and easy for users; to prove they are who they say they are, cut down on paperwork and the need to find and bring those pesky paper ID documents when they try to get a phone, passport or insurance etc. However, there are some glaringly obvious flaws with the system such as uploading personal information onto a government website/app, won’t that make it much easier to lose personal info to hacking and data breaches? How are we protected from fraud if all our IDs are online? The government promises the system will be safe, but nothing is 100% safe online.

Given the Australian government track record in the past 20 years implementing new schemes and systems the public has a right to be sceptical and concerned about yet another online system coming online that is flawed and untested. Robo Debt, The NBN (National Broadband Network) and My Health Record are just a few examples of the governments greatest hits regarding new and flawed technological systems.

In the last few years data breaches and hacks have plagued government and business services, systems and sites alike which have exposed the lackadaisical and complacent nature of their online security. The Optus and Medicare data breaches are a painful and realistic reminder about how behind these sectors have been regarding online security. There are some positives, such as organisations being limited with the amount of personal information they have access to. Another plus is business, and establishments won’t be able to keep customers personal info, however how safe is a system that requires so much personal information in the first place? Can we trust the government with our sensitive info? and Can it be guaranteed to be kept safe on an online system? Can anything online truly be guaranteed to be safe?

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Sources:

https://www.digitalidsystem.gov.auhttps://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/six-million-times-faster-a-new-internet-speed-record-and-how-australia-compares/3ezzqj0ve#

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/internet-speeds-by-country

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-20/optus-hack/104002682

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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/worldtoday/nearly-half-of-all-australians-health-data-hacked/104119008

https://www.9news.com.au/national/national-digital-identity-scheme-explained-australia/c203a38a-8697-4d35-80dd-e36ec1959c30

https://theconversation.com/the-government-is-developing-a-new-digital-id-system-it-must-first-gain-the-publics-trust-236689