The need for digital IDs for Canadians to prove their identities securely has been accelerated by the pandemic, according to Interac. .Working with both public and private sector organizations, Interac said it's looking to "bring Canadians solutions that they can trust." .Interac Corp. announced in 2019 it acquired Ottawa-based 2Keys, a company that oversees digital identity and access solutions for Canadian governments, financial institutions and commercial clients..Together, the two would work to support "the future of digital ID and commerce" and allow Interac to "build on its 35-year record of security and innovation in payments." .In October 2021, Interac Corp. acquired the exclusive rights to SecureKey Technologies Inc. (SecureKey) digital ID services for Canada. .SecureKey is a leading digital ID and authentication provider working with governments, financial institutions and businesses. .With this acquisition, Interac said it planned to "enable the Canadian digital economy" and build "a network that will help citizens securely share and verify their identity information digitally.".Neil Butters, assistant vice-president, Digital ID and Innovation for Interac, said in a recent news release due to potential efficiencies and the variety of uses digital ID technology offers, he predicts the adoption of digital IDs to benefit the Canadian digital economy and "could cross all boundaries." .He said once people realize how "easy and safe it actually can be," the technology will likely gain ground. .“I think there will be some early adopters, and people will watch those early adopters. Through those experiences people are likely to become more comfortable,” said Butters. .“Demonstrating strong capabilities around security will obviously help drive adoption by end users.”.Butters said digital IDs are not sector-specific, adding he sees benefits in the early adoption of the technology for organizations "engaged in high-risk or high-value types of transactions" including those sectors "arguably already in a state of transformation because of the pandemic" including healthcare, air travel and real estate. .Within healthcare, Butters suggested a robust digital ID infrastructure could potentially improve the delivery of medical and pharmaceutical services. He said the technology could help hospitals and clinics accurately identify patients along with their health records. .“You’re already seeing some progression with a recent initiative in Ontario,” he said, referencing the Ontario trusted account, a digital ID pilot program launched in spring 2021..In real estate, he suggested home-buying could be improved with a more convenient, efficient and secure process for the multiple identity verifications needed. Digital ID technology could allow for banks and lawyers to confirm identity faster and speed up credit checks and approvals. .Butters said Canada's air travel sector could benefit from the use of digital IDs as it works to recover from the pandemic. He suggested it could remove some of the "human element (and error)" from the equation by enhancing passports. He also suggested it could "speed up ID checks" shortening wait times in airports. .“I think we’ll see the arrival of digital passports, which has the potential to help travel become more seamless,” said Butters..Immigration applications could be processed faster with the use of digital IDs, suggested Butters, adding it could also be used to help immigrants integrate into Canadian life easier, such as when opening accounts online. .Butters also said the technology could aid businesses with age verifications without the need for customers or clients revealing other personal details such as photo, address, etc., included on certificates such as a drives licence. .“What digital ID could provide is an ability to share this kind of personal information more securely, and the potential to only provide the necessary information that is strictly required for that particular type of transaction,” he said.
