Nearly one billion people on earth lack any form of widely recognized identity.

Let me say that again…a billion people! Looked at another way, that is one person in eight alive today living without any official record of their existence.

These individuals are mostly women and children, the majority are poor, and many are refugees or displaced persons. Their status — or rather, lack of official status — represents a constant barrier to participation in modern social, economic, and political life.

Many of us are lucky enough to live in countries where we have multiple forms of ID; a driver’s license or transit pass, which enables us to get where we need to go, a work ID to access our place of employment, credit or debit cards to make purchases, health ID cards to receive medical care, logins to access our work, financial, and social media accounts, and more. We use them without thinking about it and generally take them for granted.

But, if you want to get a sense of what life is like without a formal identity, try leaving all your forms of ID at home for one day. It will open your eyes.

If you are lucky, you will make it to work without being pulled over by a police officer (caution: your day is likely to get much worse if you do). Without carrying a driver's license, you will probably be looking over your shoulder and driving more slowly and carefully, experiencing — though to a lesser degree — the fear and uncertainty that those without ID experience on a daily basis, across all of their activities. You may return home hungry because you were unable to pay for lunch, or do any of the other activities that require a credit card. And, hopefully, the security guard in the lobby recognizes you — or can call someone to admit you — otherwise, you might be heading home early to “work remotely.”

Seriously… try a day of not using any form ID to recognize just how much you depend on it.

Digital ID can be a powerful tool that both empowers individuals and protects their basic human rights and civil liberties.

Those who lack an official identity find it difficult or impossible to access basic services, such as education, employment, health care, and financial services. They are unable to exercise their rights as citizens and voters and participate in the modern economy. Giving these individuals an official identity unlocks countless opportunities.

Article Six of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.” Adopted in 1948, the Declaration defines a variety of rights to which we are all entitled; equal treatment before the law, dignity, nationality, privacy, education, mobility, and more. Being able to prove one’s identity is fundamental to the full exercise of these rights.

In 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 16.9) established a target of providing legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030. The UN, World Bank, and nations around the world have made admirable progress toward closing the “identity gap.” In a recent Biometric Update 16.9 Podcast, UNDP’s Niall McCann predicted that, by 2025, 350 million more people will have a recognized form of identity. This would be a remarkable accomplishment. But, from our perspective, closing the identity gap is necessary, but, ultimately, insufficient.

The world would be a simpler place if having an ID guaranteed these rights. Of course, it doesn’t. For some individuals who do have an ID — religious and ethnic minorities, political dissidents, for example — relying on a national ID system can have the opposite effect, making them more susceptible to exclusion, oppression, and persecution. For these individuals, alternative forms of ID are necessary to ensure that their rights — and, in some cases, their lives — are protected.

Done properly, “good ID” can help address both challenges, offering the promise of both empowerment and protection. And yet, all ID systems — digital or paper-based — come with attendant risks, which must be understood and intentionally mitigated through technology, design, policy, and enforcement choices by public and private sector decision-makers.

At ID2020, we often say that “good ID = good technology + good policy + good governance.”

There is a dangerous tendency to think that we can “tech our way out of any problem.”

The reality is that technology alone cannot adequately prevent exclusion, oppression, surveillance, and a variety of other undesirable outcomes. Building ID systems — especially digital ID systems — in an ethical manner requires governance frameworks and robust policy and regulatory safeguards that add an extra layer of protection. This is why collaboration between governments, multilateral and bilateral funders, civil society, and the private sector is so essential.

We are encouraged by the progress being made. At the same time, we are humbled by the task ahead of us and know that we must do more.

Living up to the intent of SDG 16.9 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will require not only expanding access to ID, but also ensuring that these systems are designed, built, and implemented in ways that protect fundamental human rights, enhance equity, and promote social and financial inclusion.

We hope that you will join us today in celebrating Identity Day by taking a moment to reflect on how our community — and, indeed, each of us individually — can help enhance equity, inclusion, and social and economic justice through our work.

Thank you.

We are delighted to announce today that the Learning Economy Foundation has joined the ID2020 Alliance.

The Learning Economy Foundation envisions a world in which learners can map their educational progress to achieve their academic, employment, and life goals.

A U.S. based non-profit organization with a global mission, Learning Economy is accelerating progress toward 21st-century education, addressing inequity in the workplace, and connecting a fragmented ecosystem of stakeholders into a unified hub of innovation — the Internet of Education

They do this by fostering collaboration among a diverse array of stakeholders through regional “labs”, which offer a unified ecosystem for innovation, pilots, research, and collaboration for the future of education and work. Learning Economy is currently running labs in the Asia Pacific region; Broward County, Florida; Colorado; and beyond.

“Education and workforce development represent an exciting opportunity to apply digital ID technology, especially as we think about the potential of digitally verifiable educational credentials,” said ID2020 head of advocacy and communication, Ethan Veneklasen. “We look forward to learning more about the Learning Economy Foundation’s innovative collaboration model and to working together to promote the ethical development and implementation of digital ID technologies in this evolving space.”

Learning Economy was launched at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018 by founders Chris Purifoy and Jackson Smith. In addition to a staff of 18, the Foundation has engaged more than 50 steering committee members and advisors and hundreds of private-public stewards who share their commitment to modernizing the world’s education and employment infrastructure through the thoughtful implementation of emerging digital technologies — including digital ID.

“Digital identity plays a key role in reshaping the education and employment landscape,” said Chris Purifoy, Chairman of Learning Economy Foundation. “By shifting to a learner and employee-centered approach, we can begin solving some of the toughest challenges in education. New open standards and technologies can allow learners to own their own data and carry their credentials with them like assets throughout their entire lives. We believe our alliance with ID2020 will be an important catalyst toward enabling a more equitable, self-sovereign future.”

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and ethical implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital identity solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services and implementing programs, and advocating for the ethical implantation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights and reap the benefits of economic empowerment and to protecting user privacy and ensuring that data is not commoditized.

About LEF

Learning Economy Foundation (LEF), a 501c3 non-profit, serves as a thought leader in

ecosystem-first approaches to education and workforce infrastructure. With years of experience building relationships within standards bodies, education institutions, and the private-public sector, LEF supports local/regional Co-Labs as onramps to the Internet of Education (IoE).

LEF Co-Labs act as collaborative, localized research and development hubs for piloting foundational IoE utilities. Co-Labs help to unify the education to the employment supply chain by connecting systems into a fully unified but decentralized ecosystem. Co-Labs are guided with research to ensure informed, data-driven decisions; they are co-directed with local stakeholders to build community, align incentives, and establish shared systems of trust; they enable foundational pilots helping to confirm minimum system requirements, validate outputs, ensure interoperability, and refine and grow the local Co-Lab model; lastly, they act to support open, community-strengthening utility marketplaces, advance ongoing open source innovation, and ensure community and pilot sustainability.

ID2020 Welcomes Learning Economy Foundation as Newest Alliance Partner was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We are delighted to announce today that Brazilian privacy advocate, Danilo Doneda, has been named as the newest member of the ID2020 board of directors.

Doneda, a practicing attorney and professor, currently serves as director of CEDIS/IDP (Center for Law, Internet, and Society). He is also a member of the National Data Protection and Privacy Council, serving on behalf of Brazil’s House of Representatives; the Board of Directors of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP); and the advisory boards of the United Nations Global Pulse Privacy Group and the Project Children and Consumption (Instituto Alana).

“Identity and privacy are both fundamental and complementary aspects of citizenship and human rights in an increasingly digitized world,” said Doneda. “Identification frameworks can be as powerful and trustable as possible, as long as they accomplish to provide effective and meaningful privacy features and controls.”

“We are delighted to welcome Danilo to the ID2020 board of directors,” said board chair, Kim Gagné. “ID2020 has always been committed to the idea that individuals must be able to control how their personal data is collected, used, and shared. Privacy — and the trust that derives from it — is essential for digital identity to achieve its potential for empowering and protecting individuals, especially the most vulnerable members of society. Danilo’s extensive experience and commitment to digital privacy and data protection made him an obvious addition to the board and we are grateful for his commitment to our work.”

Prior to his current role, Doneda served as the General Coordinator at the Department of Consumer Protection and Defense at the Brazilian Ministry of Justice. He worked as a professor and visiting researcher at numerous universities in Brazil and Europe and has authored books, papers, and articles on topics related to civil law, privacy, and data protection.

Danilo Doneda holds a Ph.D. in civil law from the State University of Rio de Janeiro and an L.L.B. from the Federal University of Paraná (Brazil).

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting and portable digital ID solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services, implementing programs, and advocating for the ethical implementation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. ID2020 Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights while ensuring that data remains private and in the hands of the individual.

www.id2020.org

Brazilian Privacy Advocate Danilo Doneda Joins ID2020 Board of Directors was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Good Health Pass Collaborative Releases Draft Blueprint for Digital Health Passes in Advance of G7 Summit

In an effort to restore global travel and restart the global economy, the Good Health Pass Collaborative today announced the release of the eagerly-anticipated Good Health Pass Interoperability Blueprint.

The Blueprint — released today in draft form for a three-week period of stakeholder consultations and public comment — is intended to stimulate discussion at the G7 Summit, which will open Friday in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, UK.

This announcement follows on the heels of a May 18 letter, sent by the Good Health Pass Collaborative to G7 leaders, urging them to adopt a statement of principles for digital health passes. The letter also called for the formation of a working group — composed of senior ministerial staff from G7, G20, and European Union health and transport ministries — with the task of reaching an international consensus on standards by July 16.

Unprecedented global collaboration — between governments, nonprofits, universities, and the private sector — propelled the rapid development and distribution of highly effective COVID vaccines. A similar level of collaboration is urgently needed to ensure that verifiable digital health passes for international travel can be issued and universally accepted worldwide by airlines, border control agencies, and others.

Most governments already require proof of travelers’ COVID status — either through a recent negative test or, increasingly, proof of vaccination– as a precondition of entry. While dozens of solutions have been rushed to market to meet this growing demand, they vary greatly in the extent to which they protect user privacy and security and enable individuals to control access to their personal health information.

The absence of internationally recognized, consensus-based open standards — to which all solutions adhere — could leave individuals uncertain about the security and privacy of their data and even unsure of whether their health pass will be accepted for travel.

“Digital health passes offer our best hope to safely, confidently, and promptly restore global travel and restart the global economy — but only if they are widely trusted and adopted by the public and universally accepted by airlines and border control agencies,” said ID2020 executive director, Dakota Gruener. “The standards proposed in the Good Health Pass Interoperability Blueprint will make it possible for digital health pass systems around the world to be interoperable with one another, thus creating a trusted, convenient, and seamless experience for travelers as well as for airlines, airports, and border control agencies.”

Restoring international travel is vital to restarting the global economy. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that 61.6 million tourism-related jobs worldwide have been lost as a result of the pandemic. In 2020, travel and tourism contributions to global GDP decreased by 49.1%, a loss of $4.5 trillion (USD), nearly 18 times the impact experienced during the 2009 global financial crisis.

Under normal circumstances, it would take years to develop standards for digital health passes.

In February, ID2020 launched the Good Health Pass Collaborative, a multi-sector, global initiative to establish guiding principles for digital health passes and dramatically streamline the standards development process. Within weeks, the Collaborative grew from 25 partners to more than 125 companies and organizations from across the health, travel, and technology sectors.

Nine “drafting groups”, bringing together more than 120 experts from the health, travel, and technology sectors were managed through a partnership with the Trust Over IP Foundation the Covid-19 Credentials Initiative and Linux Foundation Public Health — all projects of the Linux Foundation.

The resulting Good Health Pass Interoperability Blueprint addresses — in considerable depth and detail — nine technical and interoperability challenges around which global consensus must be reached:

• Design principles
• Creating a consistent user experience
• Standard data models and elements
• Credential formats, signatures, and exchange protocols
• Security, privacy, and data protection
• Trust registries
• Rules engines
• Identity binding (ensuring the authenticity of the holder)
• Governance

“This draft blueprint is historic, both in its depth and breadth of proposed standards, as well as the number of expert volunteers who contributed their time to its development,’’ said Gruener. “When we partnered with the Trust Over IP Foundation, we committed to an open and inclusive process. Releasing the draft for public comment today takes that commitment a step further. We felt this was incredibly important, given the range of public and private entities expected to play a role in the issuance and acceptance of digital health passes and the need to build public trust and support their adoption.”

The UK government — in its capacity as president of the G7 — has identified “leading the global recovery from coronavirus, while strengthening our resilience against further pandemic” as the highest policy priority for this 47th G7 Summit. International agreement on principles and standards for digital health passes is critical to achieving this policy priority.

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital ID solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services and implementing pilot programs, and advocating for the ethical implementation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights while ensuring data remains private and in the hands of the individual.

www.id2020.org

Good Health Pass Collaborative Releases Draft Blueprint for Digital Health Passes in Advance of G7… was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The ID2020 Alliance is thrilled to announce that TECH5, an identity management innovator, headquartered in Geneva, has joined our growing community of public and private sector organizations devoted to the advancement of good ID.

With branches in the US, Europe, and Asia, TECH5 is dedicated to the design, development, and distribution of identity management solutions featuring best-in-class biometric authentication services. TECH5 was founded in 2018 by a team of experienced industry professionals, who have been iterating on multi-modal biometric matching solutions for more than two decades.

“We are delighted to welcome Tech5 to the ID2020 Alliance,” said Head of Advocacy and Communications, Ethan Veneklasen. “Over the past two months, they have been contributing to the work of the Good Health Pass Collaborative. We are now thrilled to have them involved with ID2020's work more broadly and look forward to working closely with their team to promote the implementation and adoption of ethical approaches to digital ID.”

The TECH5 team combines deep technical expertise with programmatic know-how to offer beneficial identity solutions at the leading edge of verification and authentication technologies. TECH5’s slogan “Technologies for Inclusion” evidences its commitment to providing unabridged access to goods and services for all. Leveraging privacy-by-design principles, TECH5 builds solutions that recognize the unique needs of its users, demonstrating a strong commitment to the principles embedded in the ID2020 Manifesto.

“Today, I am happy to announce our partnership with ID2020, one of the most inspiring alliances that share our same founding principles. ID2020’s focus on Inclusive and Foundational ID as the framework for a modern and fair National ID implementation perfectly aligns with TECH5’s vision of Digital IDs that should be private, inclusive, and secure,” said TECH5 Co-founder and CEO Machiel van der Harst.

The ID2020 Alliance continues to grow, welcoming organizations from the public and private sectors that share our commitment to user-managed privacy-protecting, and portable digital ID. As an Alliance, we continue to scale our impact as we add new innovative partners. We are thrilled to add TECH5 to the partnership as we continue — together — to push for good ID for all.

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and ethical implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital identity solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services and implementing programs, and advocating for the ethical implantation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights and reap the benefits of economic empowerment and to protecting user privacy and ensuring that data is not commoditized.

About Tech5

TECH5 is an international technology company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with branches in the US, Europe, and Asia, dedicated to the design, development, and distribution of biometrics-driven Identity Management solutions. The company was founded by a team of seasoned industry professionals, who have been innovating in the area of multi-modal biometric matching solutions for more than 20 years. The TECH5 market focus is on highly scalable products built on the experience gained by the implementation of large deployments. TECH5 target markets include Government and Private sectors with products powering Civil ID, Private ID, as well as Authentication solutions that deliver Identity assurance for use cases such as digital onboarding and eKYC when opening a Bank account, applying for a document, or a service.

ID2020 Alliance Welcomes Newest Member: TECH5 was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The ID2020 Alliance could not be happier to welcome Okta to our rapidly growing community of public and private sector organizations that share our commitment to realizing the benefits – and mitigating the risks – of digital ID at scale.

Okta provides a secure, trusted platform for managing the identity of customers and employees. Founded in 2009, Okta currently provides technology to more than 9,400 organizations. Their commitment to the “good ID” agenda and prominent position in the identity and access management sector will make them an invaluable partner for the ID2020 Alliance.

At Okta’s core is the belief that social impact is foundational to its business and long-term success. Okta for Good, the company’s social impact arm, works to strengthen the links between people, technology, and community. By providing technical solutions for nonprofits, expanding economic opportunities and access to the tech sector, and empowering employees as changemakers, Okta for Good works to ensure that the company lives up to its long-term commitment to maximize benefits to society, the environment, and all of its stakeholders.

“We are delighted to welcome Okta to the ID2020 Alliance,” said executive director, Dakota Gruener. “If properly designed and ethically implemented, digital ID can be the key that unlocks previously inaccessible rights and opportunities for hundreds of millions of people globally. ID2020 and Okta share a common vision; to ensure that those keys are available to everyone.”

“According to USAID, ‘There may be no single factor that affects a person’s ability to share in the gains of global development as much as having an official identity. That’s why Okta is proud to have recently joined the ID2020 Alliance, a cross-sector effort of global organizations committed to an ethical approach to digital ID,” said Adam Rosenzweig, Senior Manager, Product Impact, “ID2020 plays a critical role in the evolving digital ID ecosystem by convening a diverse set of stakeholders to develop standards for the design and evaluation of digital identity implementations.”

The ID2020 Alliance continues to grow, welcoming organizations from the public and private sectors that share our commitment to user-managed privacy-protecting, and portable digital ID. As an Alliance, we are only as strong as our members and we are excited to add Okta to the partnership as we move — together — towards providing good ID for all.

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and ethical implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital identity solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services and implementing programs, and advocating for the ethical implantation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights and reap the benefits of economic empowerment and to protecting user privacy and ensuring that data is not commoditized.

Okta Joins the ID2020 Alliance was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today, we are delighted to announce that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda has joined as the newest member of the ID2020 Alliance.

ID2020 is a public-private partnership that brings together nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and ethical implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital identity solutions.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda is an independent supervisory authority that was formally launched last year when Alexander White was appointed the island nation’s first privacy commissioner.

A lawyer by training — and hailing from the United States — Commissioner White has a mandate to protect the privacy and data protection rights of all Bermudians. Primary among his objectives are building the nation’s cyber-risk expertise and developing a privacy framework for the mid-Atlantic that adheres to the highest standards for data protection. Commissioner White has agreed to serve as a member of ID2020’s Ethics and Risk Advisory Committee.

“Digital identity solutions, if designed the right way, have the potential to place individuals in even greater control over how their personal information is used,” said White. “Such ethical, privacy-protective, and interoperable approaches will help build a more inclusive world and enable safer online experiences. ID2020 has long advocated for user control over personal data — a core belief that we share. Bermudians will benefit from the development of digital identity solutions and standards that promote privacy protections, and we look forward to collaborating with the ID2020 team to achieve our shared objectives.”

“Over the past several years, Bermuda has positioned itself as a leader in the fintech space, harnessing digital technology for the benefit of its citizens and the development of its economy. In establishing the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda, the government recognized that data protection, inclusion, and user-centricity are critical to the full realization of these benefits” said ID2020’s Head of Public Sector Partnerships, Meredith Kravitz. “We are delighted to welcome the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda to the Alliance and Commissioner White to his new role as a member of the ID2020 Ethics and Risk Advisory Committee.”

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and ethical implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital identity solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services and implementing programs, and advocating for the ethical implantation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights and reap the benefits of economic empowerment and to protecting user privacy and ensuring that data is not commoditized.

www.ID2020.org

About The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda (PrivCom) is an independent supervisory authority established in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act 2016 (PIPA) with a mandate to regulate the use of personal information by organizations in a manner that recognizes both the need to protect the rights of individuals and the need for organizations to use personal information for legitimate purposes.

The Privacy Commissioner’s powers and responsibilities include supervising the processing of personal information by both private- and public-sector organizations, investigating compliance with PIPA, issuing guidance and recommendations, liaising with other enforcement agencies, and advising on policies and legislation that affect privacy. PrivCom also works to raise awareness and educate the public about privacy risks, and to protect individual's rights and freedoms when their personal data is used.

Alexander White has served as the first Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda since January 2020.

www.privacy.bm

Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda Joins the ID2020 Alliance was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Good Health Pass: A New Cross-Sector Initiative to Restore Global Travel and Restart the Global Economy

Today, ID2020 announced the launch of the Good Health Pass Collaborative along with more than 25 leading individual companies and organizations in the technology, health, and travel sectors — including the Airports Council International (ACI), Commons Project Foundation, COVID-19 Credentials Initiative, Evernym, Hyperledger, IBM, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Linux Foundation Public Health, Lumedic, Mastercard, Trust Over IP Foundation, and others.

The Good Health Pass Collaborative is an open, inclusive, cross-sector initiative to create a blueprint for interoperable digital health pass systems that will help restore global travel and restart the global economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every segment of the global economy, but none as profoundly as travel and tourism. Last year, airlines lost an estimated $118.5 billion USD with related impacts across the economy in excess of $2 trillion USD.

In conjunction with the announcement, the Collaborative also released its first white paper, entitled, Good Health Pass: A Safe Path to Global Reopening.

Collaboration Among a New Ecosystem of Players

“There’s one thing the world agrees on — we need to address the health concerns today to support a return to normalcy,” said Ajay Bhalla, President of Cyber & Intelligence at Mastercard. “Delivering a global, interoperable health pass system can only happen if we come together in a way that meets the needs of everyone involved. This Collaborative will be critical in helping to define how we connect the pieces that will bring travel back safely, spark job creation and jumpstart the world’s economic engine.”

Various efforts are currently underway to develop digital health credentials systems — both vaccination and test certificates — for international travel. Yet, despite this race to market, it is unlikely that a single solution will be implemented universally — or even across the entire travel industry. Thus, it is critical that solutions are designed from the onset to be interoperable — both with one another and across institutional and geographic borders.

The Good Health Pass Collaborative is not intended to supplant existing efforts but rather to help weave them together, fill gaps where they may exist, and facilitate collaboration among a new ecosystem of stakeholders, many of whom have never worked together before.

“Fragmentation is a risk we simply cannot ignore,” said ID2020 Executive Director Dakota Gruener. “To be valuable to users, credentials need to be accepted at check-in, upon arrival by border control agencies, and more. We can get there — even with multiple systems — as long as solutions adhere to open standards and participate in a common governance framework. But without these, fragmentation is inevitable, and travelers — and the economy — will continue to suffer needlessly as a result.”

Global Travel & Digital Health Credentials

COVID-19 test results are already required for entry at some airports and at international borders. But existing paper-based certificates are easy to lose, unnecessarily expose sensitive personal information, and are prone to fraud and counterfeiting.

By contrast, digital health credentials can be printed (e.g., as a QR code) or stored on an individual’s mobile phone. They enhance user privacy and “bind” an individual’s identity to their test result or vaccination certificate, thus enabling real-time, fraud-resistant digital verification.

“Our health data consists of the most sensitive personal information, deserving of the strongest privacy,” said Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Executive Director of the Global Privacy & Security By Design Centre. “Release of our health data must be under our personal control. The Good Health Pass does just that: With Privacy by Design embedded throughout, you control the release of your digital health data, and to whom; all de-identified and decentralized. Privacy and functionality: Win/Win!”

The World Health Organization recently convened the Smart Vaccination Certificate Consortium to establish standards for vaccination certificates, but no analogous effort currently exists for test certificates. Given that it is expected to take years for vaccines to be universally available globally, widespread testing will remain an essential public health tool — and one that must continue alongside vaccination to ensure a safe and equitable return to public life.

The Good Health Pass Collaborative has defined four primary requirements that digital health credential systems for international travel must satisfy:

• Cross-border: Solutions must work at airports, airlines, ports-of-call, and borders worldwide and comply with international and local regulations.
• Cross-industry: Solutions will require the collaboration of the travel, health, governments, and technology sectors.
• Secure & privacy-protecting: Solutions will require the collaboration of the travel, health, governments, and technology sectors. Solutions must comply with all relevant security, privacy, and data protection regulations and must be able to bind the presenter of the credential to the credential itself at the required level of assurance.
• Frictionless: Solutions must seamlessly integrate into testing and travel processes, thus enhancing and streamlining the experience for individuals and airlines alike. Solutions must not add new material costs for travelers. Optimally, validation processes will be contactless to maintain or enhance hygiene.

The Collaborative welcomes the participation of policymakers and representatives of government agencies; companies in the health, technology, and travel sectors; and civil society organizations who share a commitment to safely restoring international travel and economic activity while simultaneously ensuring that equity, privacy, and other civil liberties are protected.

If you are interested in learning more, please visit the Good Health Pass website at goodhealthpass.org.

Endorsing Organizations

• Affinidi
• Airport Council International (ACI)
• Airside
• analizA
• AOKpass
• Bindle Systems
• BLOK Solutions
• CLEAR
• The Commons Project Foundation
• Covid Credential Initiative (CCI)
• Daon
• Everynym
• Global Privacy & Security by Design Centre
• Grameen Foundation
• Hyperledger
• IBM
• idRamp
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
• iProov
• Linux Foundation Public Health
• Lumedic
• Mastercard
• MIT SafePaths
• National Aviation Services (NAS)
• Panta
• PathCheck Foundation
• Prescryptive Health
• SITA
• STChealth
• Trust Over IP Foundation
• ZAKA

Good Health Pass: A New Cross-Sector Initiative to Restore Global Travel and Restart the Global… was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The ID2020 Alliance is delighted to welcome U.K.-based Nuggets as the newest member of its vibrant community. The Alliance is made up of public and private sector organizations who share a common commitment to good ID for all.

The Nuggets proposition could not be clearer, proclaiming boldly that “privacy is a fundamental human right” and signaling an immediate alignment with the ID2020 Manifesto — the statement of principles that guide the Alliance’s work.

“We are always excited to welcome organizations who so wholeheartedly embrace our values,” said ID2020 Executive Director, Dakota Gruener. “When we talk about complex issues, such as identity and data ownership, we know that transparency is essential to building trust — with customers, partners, and users. We could not be more excited to welcome Nuggets to the Alliance as we work together toward a future with good digital identity for all.”

Nuggets offers a robust decentralized self-sovereign ID and payments platform, that enables consumers to retain control of their personal information and businesses to protect their customer’s data. Their solution leverages biometrics for verification, strong customer authentication, and cryptographic proof of identity to facilitate customer onboarding (KYC & KYB), single sign-on with biometrics, omnichannel payments, age verification, contactless delivery and verified two-way communication transactions through a scalable, decentralized digital ID.

Founded in 2016 by Alastair Johnson and Seema Khinda Johnson, Nuggets is available in Europe and Australia and is expanding its platform into new verticals including financial services, which has been advanced by a significant partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions, one of the largest protectors of private and confidential data in the world.

Nuggets has already won numerous awards for its industry-leading FinTech offerings, including most recently from Deutsche Bank. As part of their recent growth, Nuggets has established commercial partnerships with global companies such as LexisNexis Risk Solutions, LatPay, QFPay, and a variety of other organizations.

“Frustratingly, 2020 was the worst year on record for data breaches, signaling a seismic shift in consumer attitudes towards privacy,” said Alastair Johnson, CEO & Founder of Nuggets. “On this Data Privacy Day — held annually on January 28 to create awareness about the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust — it feels particularly timely for Nuggets to join forces with ID2020 and the other brand leaders that are helping to make protecting customers’ data a top priority in this increasingly data-driven digital world.”

The ID2020 Alliance also continues to grow at a healthy pace, welcoming organizations from the public and private sectors that share our commitment to user-managed privacy-protecting, and portable digital ID. As an Alliance, we are only as strong as our members and we are thrilled to add Nuggets to the partnership as we move — together — towards providing good ID for all.

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and ethical implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital identity solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services and implementing programs, and advocating for the ethical implantation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights and reap the benefits of economic empowerment and to protecting user privacy and ensuring that data is not commoditized.

About Nuggets

Nuggets is an award-winning, decentralized, self-sovereign identity and payment platform. It helps organizations to protect customer data while giving customers a frictionless, seamless experience. Nuggets is the only platform of its kind that truly brings together payments and ID, utilizing self-sovereign data principles.

Nuggets was founded on the belief that each of us should own and control our personal information. No one else. Privacy is a fundamental human right, and a fundamental change is needed in the way personal data is stored.

UK-Based Nuggets Joins the ID2020 Alliance was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The ID2020 Alliance continues to grow, and today, we are delighted to welcome the Panta Group as the newest member of our community.

With corporate values rooted in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Australia-based Panta Group is partnering with governments and NGOs to develop modern, interoperable, and reliable digital infrastructure that will enhance access to essential public services.

While many large and small companies are developing digital ID solutions for financial services and public health, Panta has focused their offerings toward the equally vital transportation sector. Panta Transportation develops cashless payment solutions for fare and toll collection, which integrate with transportation management systems to make public transit more accessible and efficient, thereby enhancing the rider experience. They are currently working to modernize transportation digital infrastructure in the Philippines.

“After food, water, and shelter, the ability to get from here to there is one of the next most basic human needs,” said ID2020 Executive Director, Dakota Gruener. “Whether for trips to work or school, to visit a doctor, shop, or connect with friends and family, mobility plays a central part in all of our lives. We are always excited to align with companies, like Panta, whose work is so explicitly grounded in a commitment to equity and sustainable development.”

“Panta is excited to join the ID2020 Alliance,” said CEO, David Kahale. “The principles for which the ID2020 Alliance has always stood are a perfect match for us as we aim to digitize payments and identification for public transportation across the developing world. Beginning next year, Panta will provide millions of public transportation users in the Philippines with digital IDs and contactless payments. We are excited to leverage ID2020’s expertise as we collectively work toward establishing new standards for data privacy and reliable digital ID for the transportation sector.”

The ID2020 Alliance welcomes new corporate, government, and civil society partners who share our commitment to a standards-based approach to user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital ID and we look forward to Panta’s active participation in this global movement toward “good ID”.

About ID2020

ID2020 is a global public-private partnership that harnesses the collective power of nonprofits, corporations, and governments to promote the adoption and ethical implementation of user-managed, privacy-protecting, and portable digital identity solutions.

By developing and applying rigorous technical standards to certify identity solutions, providing advisory services and implementing programs, and advocating for the ethical implantation of digital ID, ID2020 is strengthening social and economic development globally. Alliance partners are committed to a future in which all of the world’s seven billion people can fully exercise their basic human rights and reap the benefits of economic empowerment and to protecting user privacy and ensuring that data is not commoditized.

www.ID2020.org

About the Panta Group

Panta is a start-up, founded in 2016 and is based in Sydney, Australia. Panta is dedicated to developing digital and sustainable solutions for public transportation in developing countries. Panta is currently releasing a digital ticketing and contactless payment system across the Philippines and is also aiming to create digital contact tracing and national ID systems in the Philippines.

www.pantagroup.com.au

Panta Group Joins the ID2020 Alliance was originally published in ID2020 on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.