Australia: Australian Government opened consultation on Digital ID Bill 2023 including data protection regulation

On 19 September 2023, the Australian Government opened a consultation on the draft Digital ID Bill until 10 October 2023. The draft Bill proposes to expand the existing Digital ID system, which is currently limited to accessing government services, to the private sector and establishes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as an independent regulator of the Digital ID system. Furthermore, the draft Bill introduces a voluntary accreditation scheme with cybersecurity and privacy requirements for accredited digital ID providers. In particular, the draft Bill gives individuals rights over their personal data, including requiring explicit consent for the collection of biometric data and its immediate destruction if consent is withdrawn. It prohibits accredited entities from tracking online behaviour or using personal data for marketing purposes without explicit consent. Data processors will have to comply with security measures to ensure that data is only used for authorised purposes, such as identity verification or fraud prevention.