Digital Trust: For the People and for the Planet
Our daily activities are shifting into the digital realm where we’re exposed to rapidly evolving cyber threats. Yet, we’ve all had the experience of waiting in line to access services, wishing it was possible to get the information we needed from the comfort of our own homes. We want easy to access modern services, but not at the sacrifice of our online safety.
To address this, BC Digital Trust is developing new tools that enable easier access to services while adding an extra layer of security. Using digital trust technology will help the Government of British Columbia achieve its goal of improving public services according to B.C.’s Digital Plan.
Transforming Public Service Delivery: BC Digital Trust
Working in provincial government projects across Canada for 16 years has taught me a lot about how to deliver solutions that meet the needs of users. When I had the opportunity to join BC Digital Trust last November, I saw the tremendous potential of their work in making BC a better place. We can improve the lives of British Columbians by making it easier to access services and giving people more control over how they share information. Rather than solving individual problems, BC Digital Trust is taking an ecosystem approach, offering a solution that can address various challenges across different areas of life.
In my role, I lead technical and business teams dedicated to using digital credentials to improve how individuals and businesses interact online. I’m responsible for getting projects off the ground. I act as a liaison between developers and adopters, and ensure both sides have what they need to be successful.
And we’re already seeing some success.
Our current user base has let us know that the BC Wallet has a positive impact in helping them work digitally. Many people are not familiar with this topic, and there is limited awareness about the benefits it offers. It is encouraging to know that our efforts are making a difference by helping people recognize the possibilities of digital trust solutions. Creating an understanding around digital trust and how it can improve our lives is crucial to what we do.
Building Confidence Online
When it comes to interactions online, our personal data is highly valuable, and it’s essential to safeguard how our information is used. To ensure that sensitive data is protected, our solutions are designed with privacy and confidentiality considerations as a core principle. In doing so, we’re equipping British Columbians with tools that give them more control over when and where they share data and empower them to engage online with confidence.
Enabling Access to Court Materials for Lawyers
One of our goals is to make life easier by simplifying day-to-day interactions. Our use case with the Law Society of B.C. is an example of how we can reduce the need for in-person verification to access sensitive documents (see our BC Wallet Showcase). In the past, when a B.C. lawyer needed to view court documents, they had to travel to the courthouse in person to prove their identity.
To improve this process, we utilize two things: the BC Wallet and digital credentials. The BC Wallet allows anyone to receive, store and present digital credentials, which are the digital equivalent of a physical credentials, such as a business permit or driver’s licence.
With digital credentials held in the BC Wallet, lawyers can now identify themselves and prove they are in good standing — swiftly and remotely.
Testing this experience with a group of around 70 lawyers and the Law Society of B.C. over four weeks resulted in over 240 logins — that’s over 240 physical trips to the courthouse saved.
“Thanks for the opportunity to be able to access court materials. It has been very helpful to me and my clients.”
“I was pleased that I was able to gain access again to the Access to Court Materials on my first try once I had my credentials on BC Wallet.”
Over 70% of participating lawyers reported having a good experience trying out digital credentials with us, and we’re just getting started.
Curious to try it yourself? Download the BC Wallet app to your iOS or Android device and explore the BC Wallet Showcase.
Just as citizens are eager for modernized services, there is high demand for digital tools that empower businesses and organizations. My colleague Nancy Norris, Senior Director of ESG and Digital Trust, and her Energy & Mines Digital Trust (EMDT) project are offering a solution.
From Local to Global: Energy & Mines Digital Trust
I lead a BC Digital Trust project called Energy & Mines Digital Trust (EMDT) which provides digital trust solutions in the natural resource sector.
As international legislation prioritizes sustainable goods, natural resource companies must be able to prove their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance to compete in global markets.
Today, data is shared through insecure channels, such as email. This leaves private information vulnerable to manipulation, and companies must customize data for every request. Buyers, auditors, and regulators are forced to take the company at their word that the data is accurate, and it becomes difficult to trust information as it is passed through complex international supply chains.
Safer Data Exchange
EMDT is enabling natural resource companies to share critical data on their sustainability performance using digital credentials. With this technology, it is more secure and efficient to send information to many recipients, and everyone can trust that the data is valid and untampered.
By piloting digital trust technology for B.C. mining and natural gas operators, my team is building a digital ecosystem to enable business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-business (G2B) exchanges. Through this, we’re increasing security and trust in interactions between natural resource operators and their stakeholders.
We knew that digital trust technology could make business processes easier and streamline access to data from trusted organizations, such as government. Soon, this became clear to our pilot organizations, too.
“Paper documents are of limited use as they are not updated. Digital certificates should make it far easier to quickly and reliably verify the rights held by the title along with the current registered holder, making for smoother, more efficient commercial transactions among our industry clients.” — Terrence Branscombe, Senior Tenure Management Advisor, Tenure and Resource Stewardship Branch, EMLI
Digital Trust in Action: EMDT’s Mining Use Case
After two years of research and development, our mining use case is moving to production, making both B2B and G2B interactions using digital credentials a reality for the mining sector.
Participants receive two credentials:
· Mines Act Permit — Issued by the Government of British Columbia, a credential that regulates all mining activity in the province. Using this credential, mining companies can confirm the legality of their operations to numerous recipients.
· Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) report — A voluntary benchmarking standard governed by the Mining Association of Canada that recognizes environmental, social, and governance performance, enabling mining companies to differentiate themselves in global markets.
Using these credentials, a mining company can prove information about their products and operations with a few clicks. Companies remain in control of their data and where it is shared, whether to a local auditor or an international consumer.
The Future of Digital Trust
BC Digital Trust is revolutionizing how we offer services, collect information, and protect privacy, with recognition from leaders around the world.
“I’m just truly impressed. [British Columbia] is probably the greatest government open source success story in the world.” — Jim Zemlin, Executive Director, Linux Foundation
There are limitless possibilities to explore in fostering trust online and making digital interactions easier and more secure. BC Digital Trust is setting a precedent for how government supports the transition to a digital economy, making life easier and more secure for British Columbians, while creating a blueprint for governments around the world.
Contact
- Learn more about BC Digital Trust and its projects by visiting their website at digital.gov.bc.ca/digital-trust.
- For more information on the EMDT project, please visit digital.gov.bc.ca/emdt.
