As people and businesses increasingly rely on online services for a broader array of transactions and interactions, there is an expanding range of situations where authenticity and verification are important. In certain, high-risk contexts, verifying digital identities can reduce fraud and enhance confidence in online experiences. At the same time, an expansion of data collection requirements for purposes of verification can create a variety of new safety and privacy harms, including by creating new risks for identity fraud due to data breaches exposing individuals’ personal data.
The United States should look for ways to collaborate and harmonize frameworks, standards, and requirements as they evolve globally.
The United States should cease using the Social Security number (SSN) as an authenticator.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) should offer individuals the ability to validate the name, SSN, and date of birth they are providing match agency records. While the SSA currently offers the ability for financial transactions through the electronic Consent Based SSN Verification system, TechNet supports expanding this capability beyond the financial services sector.
Federal agencies should look to the private sector as a resource and partner for developing innovative solutions to digital identity verification services those agencies provide. Federal agencies should explore additional attribute validation services they can provide.
TechNet recognizes the variety and evolving nature of approaches to verifying an individual online and does not support efforts to block any approach.
TechNet encourages exploration of, and further research on, a variety of non-ID based approaches to determine identity and authenticity online.
