News - Authentication: getting the balance right

Authentication: getting the balance right

September 2002

Governments face many of the same issues as banks when they want to offer a full range of services online. While it is handy to be able to check your bank account when and where you want, you want to balance that ease of access with a high level of confidence that only you can see your personal information. When it comes to being able to transfer money from your account, the need for protection may be even greater.

Deciding the ‘right’ level of protection for a particular service is not something government organisations can do. People are the best judges of what is acceptable.

In November e-government authentication team members will be discussing these issues with a wide range of people across New Zealand. They will be talking about the policy principles that will guide the development of online authentication. They’ll be telling people about what they found by talking to people overseas. They’ll be showing some examples of how authentication can work in practice.

But mostly they will be listening. What level of authentication do people think you need to be able to see your tax records online? Or pay a fine? Or get a licence? Or receive a benefit? To be able to deliver services like these online, as well as through the current channels, we need people to tell us where the balance lies.

Just as with the development of the authentication policy principles, we will be speaking with stakeholders such as community and advocacy groups and the Privacy Commissioner. There will also be an opportunity for anyone to have a say online or by writing to the E-government Unit. The team will publish their findings on the e-government website.