Verifying the identity of staff or customers in line with Data Privacy and Know Your Customer (KYC) legislation is impacting a wider range of Australian businesses, including those in financial services and healthcare, retail, HR, and government.
Traditional methods of verification, like visually checking or photocopying a physical driver’s licence, are inefficient and risky to businesses because:
- They’re prone to human error
- They expose organisations to privacy breaches
- They make it easier for fraudulent IDs to slip through
Australia is moving fast toward secure, digital identity tools, with ISO-aligned mobile driver licences (mDL) leading the charge. mDLs are already available across Queensland, and being developed across all remaining States and Territories as part of AusRoad’s Harmonisation Project.
Here’s what the businesses that verify their customers and staff identities need to know:
What is a Mobile Driver Licence (mDL)?
A mobile driver licence (mDL) is a digital version of a driver licence stored securely in an app on a customer’s smartphone, such as the Queensland Digital Licence app.
Unlike a photo or scan, a certified mDL:
- Is issued and cryptographically signed by a state authority
- Contains tamper-resistant data
- Can be verified in real time, against real-time credentials
- Allows the licence holder to control what theyshare (e.g. age, name, expiry)
- Licence holders are also told how long the data is stored, and notified when the relying party has accessed their information.
mDLs represent a major upgrade to identity verification for Australians and businesses with built-in world-class security, privacy and consent functionality.
The Best Way to Verify Identity by mDL: Scan It
While you can verify a mDL by sighting it on the individual’s mobile phone, the most secure and reliable way to verify someone’s digital licence is to scan the QR code displayed in their mDL app using a verifier like Veryfyd.
Here’s how it works:
- The user opens their mDL app and chooses to share their licence.
- The verifier tool establishes a secure connection with the licence holder’s phone.
- The user reviews the information requested by the business and whether the information will be retained.
- The user chooses whether to provide consent or decline sharing the information.
- The verifier tool confirms the information is current and digitally signed by the issuing authority.
- No risk of reading an expired, fake, or altered licence.
- Transaction records are stored using advanced cryptography, tokenisation or Zero Knowledge Proof principles to reduce the storage of PII.
Recent updates to Queensland’s mDL has improved licence holder’s control over their data, including more visibility over what data is being collected or stored by the relying party.
The verifying platform, Veryfyd, meanwhile, provides businesses the highest level of data control and retention, including ability to securely store mDL transactions data in their CRM or ERP via API.
Why Scanning Is Safer for You and Your Customers
Scanning the mDL using a standards-based verifier like the Veryfyd offers huge advantages over visual inspection or physical copies:
1. You Reduce Fraud Risk
- Visual checks can miss sophisticated fakes.
- Scanning confirms the licence was issued by a legitimate authority and hasn’t been altered.
2. You Respect Privacy
- The customer controls what information is shared (e.g. just 18+ status, or name/expiry, rather than specific date of birth and address details).
- You avoid collecting unnecessary or excessive personal data.
3. You Stay Compliant
- ISO 18013-5 and 18013-7 standards guide how digital licences are presented and verified.
- Scanning ensures you’re aligned with best practices for data protection and identity proofing.
Veryfyd Makes It Easy
Veryfyd is makes it so easy to confidently verify mobile driver licences built to ISO 18013 standards. It’s privacy-centric, efficient, and interoperable with all other licences built to ISO standards, improving staff productivity, protection from hackers, and streamlining customer services.
For developers keen to integrate mDL verification workflows into their software application, and businesses preparing for digital identities, Veryfyd is fully compliant with mDL standards and allows you to:
- Scan and verify mDLs using the device’s camera
- Validate the data cryptographically
- Avoid capturing unnecessary personally identifiable data (PII)
- Deliver a seamlessly smooth and secure experience for your customers and staff
The businesses that lead on digital identity will also lead on security, compliance, and customer trust.
Whether you’re onboarding new hires, checking age at point of sale, or securing site access, Veryfyd helps you verify the safest, most secure way to verify identity – by scanning ISO-certified mDLs.
Ready to Verify Identity by mDL?
Veryfyd will revolutionise your data security, safety and customer services. Check out the Veryfyd SDK to build verification workflows into your software application, or contact Veryfyd directly to start verifying your customers and staff: https://veryfyd.com.au/contact/ .
Image Credit TMR: https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/digital-licence-app-media-assets
