[BreachExchange] Biden urged to consider federal digital identity framework

[Matthew Wheeler]

https://www.biometricupdate.com/202204/biden-urged-to-consider-federal-digital-identity-framework


United States President Joe Biden has been advised to consider putting in
place a nationwide digital identity framework as one of four proposed
measures experts believe will help fight identity theft in the country.

In a letter spotted by GovInfoSecurity, addressed to Biden by identity
security experts and posted to Twitter, the President has been urged to
factor in four keys aspects in an upcoming Executive Order. Apart from
putting in place a federal digital identity framework, the other proposals
include accelerating and further supporting the issuance of mobile driver’s
licenses (mDLs), provision of direct assistance to victims of identity
theft and the establishment of identity attribute validation services.

Drafters of the letter are groups including Better Identity Coalition, the
Identity Theft Resource Center, the Electronic Transactions Association,
the National Cyber Security Alliance, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Technology Engagement Center.

“These four initiatives will ensure that any EO (Executive Order)
prioritizes helping Americans avoid ever becoming identity theft victims,
and assure that those Americans who are victimized will be able to get the
help they need to be made whole,” a portion of the letter reads.

According to the experts, using mDLs to identity oneself, as is currently
the case in some states, will make online identification safer and easier,
as opposed to the use of plastic ID cards. They have also called on the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to set rules to
govern mDL deployment as well as financial support from the federal
government to States to accelerate the rollout.

NIST would also be tasked with creating the standards and best practices
that would make up the digital identity framework.

On the aspect of direct assistance to identity theft victims, the groups
bemoaned the fact that no such formal service exists at the local, state or
federal levels, except the Identity Theft Resource Center which offers
assistance to victims gratis.

Regarding identity attribute validation, the groups mention that it will
help fight fraud, improve inclusion and “help solve identity theft
challenges in both public and private sector applications – and Americans
are at risk of identity theft and fraud in both.”

The call on Biden comes not long after he signed another Executive Order on
the responsible management of digital assets. The U.S. President has been
clear about his intention to improve digital security in the United States.
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