Mastercard introduces a consumer-centric model for digital identity
Mastercard introduced its vision for digital identity in today’s increasingly connected world. A new paper, Restoring Trust in a Digital World, presents a detailed framework of how digital identity will work, starting with the individual sitting at the heart of every digital interaction.
Guiding this model are Mastercard’s Principles of Digital Identity that will underpin the system.
- Inclusion. Everyone has a right to a digital identity
- Ownership. Individuals own their identity and personal data
- Simplicity. An individual’s use of their digital identity should be simple and intuitive
- Confidentiality. An individual has the right to keep their digital identity information private
- Consent. An individual’s digital identity should not be used or shared without their explicit consent or as permitted by law
- Transparency. Individuals have the right to understand how their digital identity data is used and shared
- Security & Integrity. Identity data and transactions that involve an individual’s digital identity should be held with the highest standards of security and integrity
- Data Rights. Individuals should have the right to access, correct and delete their identity data, and the right to recourse if their rights are violated
- Fair Use. An individual’s identity data will be used only for legitimate, fair and non-discriminatory purposes
- Choice. Individuals should have a choice of a digital identity provider and the right to opt out
Mastercard’s model embodies privacy-by-design and does not aggregate identity data. It will enable digital interactions to occur with minimal data exchanged and only when needed, and will safeguard data and the use of data effectively such that the users are in control, with a person’s identity securely bound to their smartphone.