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Trust and identity in a digital world

Updated on May 9, 2023 | Published on

This article was originally published on Sept. 4, 2019. 

Our lives are increasingly digital, and authenticating ourselves online — in other words, proving that we are who we say we are — has become a daily activity.

One major challenge is that our foundational identity documents — such as driver’s licences — haven’t kept up with the times. Digital identity (digital passports, for example) could make it easier to verify who we are and provide Canadians with safe and secure ways to manage and protect their ID online and on mobile devices. 

Canadians are wondering: What changes will my digital ID bring?

Canadians are ready for increased convenience, according to Trust and Identity in a Digital World, a nationwide online survey that Interac conducted. 

We asked more than 1,500 adult residents of Canada to share their outlooks and attitudes around identity and trust as they relate to digital technology and services. We learned that Canadians consider their identity to be among their most valuable assets — more than half of adults believe safeguarding their identity online is more important than protecting their money.

What else are Canadians thinking when it comes to identity, technology and trust? Below, we’ve collected some more insights from Trust and Identity in a Digital World.

83% of Canadians describe their identity as one of their most valuable assets. But 77% say they don’t know enough about how to protect their identity online. While our lives have become increasingly digital, our identity documents, such as passports and drivers’ licenses, remain physical. As a result, 45% are improvising by taking photos of their physical IDs in order to access their documents digitally… …even though 6 in 10 acknowledge this is risky behaviour. And 59% of Canadians find it tricky to keep track of all their physical IDs Canadians told us they want more convenient digital options to manage their identity documents. 86% think that a digital ID would be more convenient than a physical one in at least one case. 65% of Canadians fear digital IDs could be at a greater risk of theft than a physical ID, despite robust security. 62% say it would increase their level of trust in digital ID if their bank or financial institution were involved in the delivery. 58% of Canadians say they would trust digital IDs more if they knew government regulations were in place to protect their interests. 72% of Canadians believe using a digital ID to access government services should be as secure as making a payment online. Learn more about digital ID and how Interac could play a role – leveraging the technology and trust behind our secure payment network – at newsroom.interac.ca
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    This article offers general information only and is not intended as financial, legal or other professional advice. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subject matter discussed. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Interac Corp.

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