As digital ID technologies rapidly emerge and gain traction, more organisations are looking to understand consumer attitudes around these new tools. We’re analysing the pros and cons of digital and physical ID, exploring key factors influencing public attitude; what are the potential uses and benefits of this innovation to the average person?
In some cases, there is broad support for the use of these technologies, while in others, there is significant hesitance. Understanding these attitudes is critical for organisations that are looking to roll out new digital ID solutions.
What are Digital ID Technologies?
Digital identification technologies are the systems and processes used to authenticate a person’s digital interactions and transactions; these online identities are becoming increasingly important in a world where much of our businesses, banking, and communication is done on the internet.
Digital identification uses biometrics analysis based on physical features such as fingerprints, voice recognition, and facial recognition as unique identifiers that link to a person’s identity. To provide additional layers of protection, digital ID may also incorporate security measures such as two-factor authentication or multifactor authentication. By combining multiple techniques this strengthens the overall security protocol and gives people peace of mind during their online activities.
Governments worldwide are rapidly embracing digitalisation, and nowhere is this trend more evident than in the realm of identity documents. By transitioning to a digitalised environment for storing and verifying personal data, governments can benefit from streamlined processes and enhanced security. This is particularly attractive to Governments of countries with huge land-masses; citizens of India and Brazil may find themselves travelling hours to reach administrative hubs, so it’s increasingly clear why the use of digital ID is a serious consideration.
Digital ID technologies are quickly becoming integrated into all levels of life allowing us unprecedented access to resources, but there’s reluctance; can these advanced solutions provide the necessary security for safe online operations? Does digital identification replace reliable and trusty physical ID, or does it create new opportunities for criminality and lack of trust?
The consumer argument
While some people may be all too eager to adopt the new technology, others might be hesitant to put their trust in a virtual system, leading them to prefer physical forms of ID. Reasons cited as influencing decisions ranged from privacy concerns to familiarity with existing forms of ID. These individuals often feel more secure when they can view their personal information on tangible formats such as a driver’s licence or passport.
However, certain advantages were cited more frequently than others; physical identification is often thought to offer more tactile feedback than its digital counterpart and is believed to allow for better outcomes in the event of information mismanagement or theft.
People using these technologies often do not know where and how their stored information is being used. On top of this, they may not understand who has access to their data or what processes are in place to prevent its misuse. All these factors give people reason to be cautious when it comes to trusting digital identification.
In order for people to feel confident in its use, governments and companies must ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect users and their data from unauthorised access or fraudulent activities. Without adequate trust in the system, digital identity technology could potentially become an inefficient tool for both parties.
As the demand for secure digital spaces continues to grow, the debate about whether physical or digital IDs reign supreme will likely continue into the future.
The business argument
The decision to adopt digital ID isn’t made unilaterally by consumers; in today’s digital world, it can be difficult for businesses to know who their customers are and ensure that their identities are legitimate.
Many stores prefer to verify a customer’s identity using a physical ID card or passport; not only does it provide the store with tangible proof of identity, but it also helps to prevent fraudulent purchases. Physical IDs are generally harder to counterfeit than digital forms of identification, so shops can rest assured that they have positive confirmation of a customer’s identity, further assurance that the transaction is above board and legal. It may not be as convenient as its digital counterpart, but it’s still seen as an essential part of ensuring the safety and security of the shop’s operations.
Purchasing and setting up the necessary equipment required to accept these IDs is often also very expensive. This cost creates an incentive for organisations to opt instead for physical identification systems; not only are physical documents typically much less expensive than their digital counterparts, but they also require minimal infrastructure changes since they can be presented in person or sent via mail without specialised software or hardware.
Security and digital ID
Implementation of digital identification systems in various markets around the world requires robust infrastructure to ensure that this technology is securely controlled. In countries where resources are limited and public sector services are less developed, the challenges of implementing such a system can be greater. Not only might they lack access to reliable financial or technological resources, but they may also have poor communications networks and insufficient human capital to manage the implementation process effectively.
Additionally, there may be difficulty in managing user data and information to keep it secure from malicious actors if effective security protocols are not put in place ahead of time. Taking into account all these factors, it becomes clear why many nations face difficulties when attempting to implement digital identification systems – their resources simply make it unrealistic for them to successfully introduce such technology within their marketplaces.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: both methods should be given due consideration when choosing an identity solution.
In a world becoming increasingly digital, the ability to prove one’s identity is of the utmost importance and being able to provide proof of identification quickly and with minimal effort should be a priority. However, these benefits come at the price of potentially decreased security, and at this current point in time, physical ID remains a popular choice as it offers established systems that are secure and accepted by many organisations.
Ultimately, investing in both physical and digital forms of ID will ensure you are well prepared for whatever future develops. And until security protocols surrounding digital ID continuously evolve, physical id remains a strong choice when it comes to reliable proof of identity. Thus when presented with multiple options for attesting to one’s identity now or in the future, physical id should remain paramount consideration given its overall reliability across multiple environments.
Press:
KIS Global GmbH is part of a multibillion-dollar organisation with over $7bn turnover and 7,000 employees globally. KIS Global’s vision and mission statement is to revolutionise its industry by introducing its SMART™ business methodology. With more than 100 years’ combined experience, it believes that it is the driving force of the industry.
KIS Global provides leading business identity management solutions supported by quality Japanese engineering, many years of industry experience and a knowledgeable team of industry experts.
The company prides itself on working with partners and creating strong alliance networks to drive mutual business growth and a supply of high-quality products that empower the success of businesses through providing solutions to increase productivity, efficiency and security.
