IDGO’s Post

Super proud and excited about the Tech Coalition's launch of Pathways - a program to enhance the tech industry's efforts and trust & safety practices to protect young people online. This is open to all tech industry employees - not just TC members! Check out the initial set of available resources below and be on the lookout for more. If you have any questions about the resources or the program - give me a shout! #TrustAndSafety #TechForGood #ChildSafety #OnlineSafety

As someone deeply committed to promoting responsible tech, digital wellbeing, and children's digital safety, this is a development that truly resonates with me. The Global Age Assurance Standards Summit 2024 just finished up in Manchester this week culminating in a set of assertions, a seven-point call-to-action and four main principles for protecting young people from the risks of age-inappropriate goods and services. The overall message is age assurance tech isn't just a distant concept anymore - it's a reality, and it's poised to make a profound impact on safeguarding our children in both online and offline realms. By leveraging cutting-edge biometrics and other advanced technologies, businesses can now ensure compliance with age-related regulations while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our youngest digital citizens. As we navigate an increasingly digital world, it's paramount to prioritise the protection of our children and promote their healthy digital habits. By embracing age assurance technology, we not only uphold corporate social responsibility but also empower parents and guardians with the tools they need to navigate the digital landscape safely. #ageassurance #responsibletech #digitalwellbeing #digitalsafety https://lnkd.in/gdExNBjM

What a week this has been. Australia seems destined in the next few hours to pass a world first bill to ban under 16s from social media. While the discussion was started over a year ago, the rush to get this through in the final week of parliament has been extraordinary. Many details and truths have been trampled in the rush, and many participants have deliberately muddied the waters with the aim to benefit their agenda. For example: Age verification == identification for all, all the time (NOPE) Age assurance == age verification (NOPE - it includes other means too such as age estimation) Age verification == handing over national id documents (NOPE) Age estimation == age verification (NOPE, different approaches, confidence and risk) In one excruciatingly poor exchange this week, a senator challenged a tech industry representative that if they didn't support this bill they must be condoning harm to children. Such false dichotomies do nothing to further debate on an important topic, in fact they make it easier for an opaque industry to remain opaque. Every commentator for and against the motion is at pains to point out that they too want to protect children from harm. For the most part I believe that they do. I know I do. Some laws with good intentions can have bad consequences. Some laws can be un-enforceable. Rushed laws on complex topics might make for good political capital in the short term, but won't make for good social outcomes in the long term. The debate even has our Privacy Commissioner and eSafety commissioner on (apparently) opposite sides. https://lnkd.in/gYrryzaV https://lnkd.in/gjsaXQke Annabel Crabb, chief online political writer at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), summed up the painful mess amusingly in this article: https://lnkd.in/g_yTjiC7 Minimising the risk of harm in this space requires the intelligent application of the right technology and the right governance. It needs to be informed by meaningful empirical data not fuelled by passion. Less haste, more speed. #digitaltrust Sezoo

Important Update for Healthcare Professionals: Changes to NPDB User Accounts Beginning in January 2025, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) will adopt a new policy requiring user account activity at least once every 60 days. This change aligns with the NIST Special Publication 800-53 AC-2(3) to enhance security by reducing risks associated with inactive accounts. Accounts inactive for over 60 days will receive a warning email 10 days before deactivation. Additionally, users will be prompted with a one-time code sent via email upon their first login after a period of inactivity. If your account becomes inactive, reactivation is straightforward: 1. Upon your first sign-in attempt after 60 days, you will receive an email with a one-time code. 2. Use this code to reactivate and access your account. For more details, visit the link: https://lnkd.in/eHVeMN4b Please share this update with your network to ensure that healthcare providers are aware of these important changes. #NPDB #HHS #Compliance #Credentialing #HealthcareLaw #Healthcare

NEON Core State Applications are Open! See below for the application Economic Systems Inc. and ODEP, as part of the National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative, are inviting leaders from state #DevelopmentalDisabilities, #VocationalRehabilitation, #Medicaid, #MentalHealth, #Education, and #WorkforceDevelopment agencies to apply for NEON Core State support to complete collaborative projects and enact policies pertaining to the expansion of #CompetitiveIntegratedEmployment (#CIE). Over the past 2 years, NEON has assisted 13 states achieve objectives pertaining to the expansion of CIE. Please note the below application dates, and application walkthrough session. Please address all questions directly to our team at neon@econsys.com Solicitation Release: October 8, 2024, 3 p.m. ET Virtual Informational Session: October 15, 2024, 3 p.m. ET Questions Due: November 1, 2024, 9 p.m. ET Application Due: November 7, 2024, 11 p.m. ET Core State Selection Announcement: November 27, 2024, 6 p.m. ET Period of Performance: December 2, 2024 - August 31, 2025 In-Person NEON Meeting and Orientation (Participation required for one representative from each selected Core State): Tentatively February, 2025 Apply Here: https://lnkd.in/eUyiMNcY

Visitors to Social Security Administration website are now able to track the agency’s progress towards achieving its top customer service goals at https://lnkd.in/erMXqVQ5 In February 2024, Commissioner Martin O’Malley launched “SecurityStat,” a performance measurement tool to help Social Security set goals, choose actions, and track progress in meeting these challenges. "Every two weeks, every two weeks, every two weeks ..." For each SecurityStat challenge, we: ! Set a strategic goal. ! Drive leading actions. ! Track “Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)” over time. Key Challenges Tracked: 800 number performance https://lnkd.in/e7RF_NUB Processing time for benefits https://lnkd.in/eC3V-rNb Disability processing time https://lnkd.in/eqGX-KEA Disability appeals time https://lnkd.in/eH-4cYUC

You won’t believe the kind of situations we still find ourselves in, as highlighted in a recent article about a blind man who was asked for a driver’s licence as identification. It’s almost comical—if it weren’t so exasperating. Just like in the story shared by RNZ I’ve walked into a premises with my guide dog only to be met with the absurd request to produce a driving licence as ID. The irony is staggering, isn’t it? Amazingly, some places stubbornly insist on either a driving licence or a passport as the only acceptable forms of identification. This creates a real dilemma for those of us who are unable to obtain a driving licence or have no need for a passport. It is as though the system expects everyone to fit into the same narrow box, leaving those without two forms of photo ID in a difficult position. The Kiwi Access Card might seem like a step in the right direction, but it’s far from a perfect solution. Not only does it cost money to get one, but it’s also not accepted everywhere. I was once at a bank where my Kiwi Access Card was rejected. Luckily, I managed to use an online authentication app instead, but not everyone has access to such alternatives. This whole experience underscores a worrying trend: the ‘one size fits all’ and associated assumptions that are often applied to the disabled community. It is a stark reminder of how these inflexible policies reinforce damaging societal stereotypes, highlighting the urgent need for a more inclusive and adaptable system. You can read more about the original story here: https://lnkd.in/gjAbiuqi.

Analyzing these fact sheets reveals several consistent themes around control, layered compliance & language that may suggest a hidden agenda. Here’s a breakdown through a skeptical lens focused on potential doublespeak & strategic framing: Framing of “Autonomy” While Imposing Control Terms like "choice," "independence," & "flexibility" recur throughout the documents, suggesting participants have control over decisions & self-management options. However, these "choices" are immediately bounded by procedural checks, complex compliance tasks, & reliance on NDIA-appointed figures, like nominees & child representatives, who often hold decision-making power over participants. This raises the question of whether NDIA truly aims for participant autonomy or if they’re creating a framework where perceived choice is actually restricted by numerous conditions. Consent & Privacy: A Complicated Process Under Surveillance The consent fact sheet claims to empower participants, asserting they have control over sharing personal information. However, the extensive conditions & limitations on removing or altering consent, particularly with third-party agents like plan managers or nominees, suggest a structure more focused on data control than privacy protection. The stipulation that consent is "required" for identity verification, as outlined in the identity confirmation guidelines, further complicates what participants might assume to be a straightforward privacy right. Nominees & Child Representatives: “Supporting” or Governing? Documents for nominees & child representatives present these roles as protective & supportive, yet they contain specific clauses requiring representatives to “act in the best interest of” participants. This mandate is open to broad interpretation, which could enable NDIA to revoke or alter representative roles if it determines actions do not align with the agency’s standards. This authority structure could marginalize the participant’s actual voice, especially since nominees have considerable sway over planning, funding & even basic communication with NDIA. Community Connections as a Surveillance Gateway? Community connections are marketed as optional aids for social &1 community engagement. However, the documents reveal that information gathered through community connections might inform future NDIA decision-making, effectively blurring the line between "support" & "surveillance." While these connections claim to foster inclusion, they may serve as a subtle means for NDIA to assess participants' behaviors, potentially influencing their eligibility or support needs in future evaluations. Bob Buckley Graham Taylor Veronica Stephan-Miller Loma Naser Tara Hannon Annette A. Peter Gregory Jarrod Sandell-Hay Dr.Heena Sinha (MAICD) Samantha Connor Mark Sweeney Cat Walker Uli Cartwright Katy Gagliardi Sue Grier Shirley Humphris Erin McGrath Karrie Brockovich https://lnkd.in/gnKHb5Uf

🔒 Age Assurance: Safeguarding Our Children's Digital Future 🔒 With Labour’s push to strengthen online safety laws for children, age assurance is crucial. Effective methods must be reliable, protect privacy, and ensure digital inclusion. While industry focuses on age assurance and digital identity innovation, realising effective, frictionless age checks also requires support from government and regulators. At PUBLIC, we foster innovation through regulatory sandboxes. Here’s why they matter: 💡 Supporting Innovation: Safe space for tech experimentation. 📊 Informed Policymaking: Insights to inform evidence-based policies. 🧪 Controlled Testing: Evaluate age assurance tech in a controlled environment. Our end-to-end sandbox service helps develop effective, pro-innovation age assurance measures, benefiting regulators, businesses, government departments, and most importantly, users. Swipe to see how sandboxes can advance age assurance practices. 🌐 #Innovation #Sandbox #OnlineSafety #ChildSafety Zixuan Fu Daniel Fitter Léa Suazo Natasha Wren Ryan Shea Rona Harvey Alexander de Carvalho Adam Sticca Sam Mingoia

Did you know that today, 12 August, is International Youth Day? On this International Youth Day, IDPro encourages everyone in the digital identity space to be a part of fostering awareness and education around digital identity; it is essential to empowering the next generation. Digital identity has a pivotal role in unlocking opportunities and safeguarding the rights of young people worldwide. Why Digital Identity Matters for Youth: 👉 Empowerment through Access: A secure digital identity opens doors to education, employment, and financial services, empowering young people to build their futures. 👉 Privacy & Security: In an increasingly connected world, safeguarding personal information is critical. Educating youth on the importance of secure digital identity practices is key to protecting their privacy. 👉 Shaping the Future: Today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. By understanding and influencing the development of digital identity systems, young people can help shape a future that prioritizes security, accessibility, and fairness. Join us in promoting a future where every young person has a secure and trusted digital identity. #InternationalYouthDay #DigitalIdentity #YouthEmpowerment #FutureLeaders