Australia’s Digital ID Act 2024 (the Act) commences on 1 December 2024. The Act aims to provide individuals with secure, convenient, voluntary and inclusive ways to verify their identity for use in online transactions with government and businesses. It sets out the principles, governance, and oversight mechanisms for the regulation of entities providing or relying on Digital ID services.
The Digital ID Act:
- strengthens a pre-existing voluntary Digital ID Accreditation Scheme.
- provides legislative authority for the Australian Government Digital ID System (AGDIS) to expand to enable the Commonwealth to partner with states, territories and the private sector.
- enshrines privacy and consumer protections in law.
- strengthens governance for Digital ID.
The Accreditation Rules, Accreditation Data Standards, Digital ID Rules and AGDIS Data Standards (the rules and standards) are legislative instruments that support the operation of the Digital ID Act.
For individuals – the Digital ID Act means your accredited Digital ID provider is required by law to protect and keep your information private.
Digital ID Regulators – the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is the Digital ID Regulator (read more here ACCC’s Digital ID website) and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is the regulator for the privacy aspects of Australia’s Digital ID System (read more OAIC’s Digital ID website).
For Services and Providers – digital ID providers, attribute providers, exchange providers – will be able to apply to the Digital ID Regulator to become accredited. Private sector entities will be able to apply to the Digital ID Regulator to participate within the Australian Government Digital ID System by December 2026. Accredited providers will be able to display a Digital ID Accreditation Trademark.
Government Agency roles in the Digital ID System:
- Department of Finance owns and leads the Digital ID program for government. We focus on setting the policy direction, including the rules supporting the Digital ID Act 2024 and developing policies for new technologies like verifiable credentials.
- The Data Standards Body will support the Digital ID Data Standards Chair, established by the Digital ID Act, on the development of the Digital ID data standards.
- The Office of the System Administrator handles the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Australian Government Digital ID System.
- Services Australia operates the Digital ID exchange. The Digital ID exchange connects information between services and Digital ID providers within the Australian Government Digital ID System.
- The ATO operates the Australian Government’s Digital ID provider myID (formally known as myGovID) and the Relationship Authorisation Manager.
Access the website Digital ID System here, read more on how the system works here, and download the factsheet: Digital ID Act 2024 factsheet [PDF 154 KB].
