David Alexander, CEO and Principal Architect of the Mydex CIC Platform, sheds some light on Mydex CIC’s core values and how its innovations in personal data can radically benefit both individuals and organisations in their interactions online. Here is his guest blog post for Social Enterprise UK hopefully encouraging others to join this social revolution through technical innovation and desire for the common good.
Mydex CIC’s social purpose
Mydex CIC’s social purpose is to empower individuals to take control over how their personal data is used and shared online allowing them to manage their lives better.
Personal Data Stores
As local authorities and public sector organisations face the challenges of budget cuts and increasing citizen expectations, Mydex CIC offers a Platform that equips all parties to achieve trusted data exchange with fully informed consent. Individuals are given a portable, privacy-friendly MydexID and Personal Data Store completely free of charge. Their MydexID can be used across the internet without the downside of social login where the individual is not always aware of how their data is being used. At the core of the service is the individual’s Personal Data Store in which they can accumulate data about their lives and manage the sharing of it with the organisations and services they choose to.
Trusted Attribute Exchange
Organisations such as local authorities are offered a contract to connect to individuals Personal Data Stores using Mydex CIC. Mydex’s Personal Data and Identity Services allow encrypted, structured data to flow in both directions, with the permission of the individual. This provides a dynamic way for local authorities to engage with citizens now and in the future based on trusted two-way data sharing. It also means they can securely deliver verified attributes about an individual to their Personal Data Store based on information they already hold about this individual and transactions that have taken place.
Everything’s much easier
Having one place to go to access an individual’s data means saving a substantial amount of time, effort and money trying to remedy human error and incomplete information. If the individual is in complete control of the data they share — if they feel like an active participant in the process — they will naturally see the benefits of engaging with their local authority. A connection to Mydex CIC supports the move to ‘Digital by Default’ and the ability to ‘join up’ cross-agency services safely and securely. It offers costs savings, the opportunity for greater personalisation, to cut costs and risks and build trust.
Massive cost savings
A local authority can spend up to £120m on letters per year. A connection to the Mydex Platform could reduce this cost by £117m, equipping every citizen with their own Mydex Personal Data Store. For the cost of sending one first-class letter (now 62p), a local authority could have unlimited, secure digital communication with an individual for 10 years.
Digital inclusion
Having a Mydex Personal Data Store with verified data means citizens are also on their way to being pre-equipped with the level of identity assurance needed to access government services online, such as benefits, via GOV.UK Verify. Mydex CIC is one of the five current Government certified GOV.UK Verify identity assurance providers. The Mydex CIC service is live, certified and UK-based, and can operate at scale today.
Interesting case study
In terms of an interesting case study, Mydex CIC recently helped demonstrate a new approach to the trusted exchange of verified attributes by collaborating earlier this year with Warwickshire County Council, the Government Digital Service and the Open Identity Exchange (OIX). The study states in its conclusion (p.14):
“Test users commented that they “love it”, ”think it’s brilliant” and wonder: “Why on earth wouldn’t you do it this way”. They feel secure, in control and like the idea “it keeps the naughty boys out”.
For local authorities it is a way of achieving channel shift and digital by default, and at the same time realising tremendous cost savings.
For attribute providers it is a way of driving out costs and improving performance. Many attribute providers are also service providers and could benefit in both ways.
Across central and local government and beyond, attribute exchange along with identity assurance have the potential to become a game changer.”
The paper outlining the findings can be downloaded at: http://oixuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/WCC-2-white-paper-FINAL.pdf
Five interesting points about Mydex CIC’s social impact:
- The legal status as CIC means Mydex CIC is asset-locked — as a Community Interest Company its duty is to serve the community of individuals who use personal data online above any other obligations. Mydex CIC cannot be sold to another entity which is not similarly asset locked. It is also subject to a dividend cap which dictates that it must reinvest 65% of all its profits back into furthering its community purpose; the other 35% can be distributed to its shareholders.
- For organisations that stand to make huge operational savings by connecting to Mydex CIC, the cost is negligible. (Ten years of secure encrypted digital interaction with one individual for less than the price of a single letter) and easier, secure online identification.
- Mydex CIC can help transform public services through rapid low cost deployment of Personal Data and Identity Services.
- For the individuals Mydex CIC serves, this means there is quick, convenient, secure and easy access to the applications and services they need online plus the benefit of having to only remember one set of credentials.
- Mydex CIC is committed to and passionate about reducing the digital divide (digital inclusion of all members of society). In the longer term this is a broad benefit to the whole economy and to society. It is a substantial contribution towards a fairer, high-trust, low-cost, high-innovation society and economy in which individuals have regained control over their own affairs. Simply put, personal control over personal data is good for everyone.
- For more information on Social Enterprise UK and the benefits of becoming a member please go to their webpage www.socialenterprise.org.uk/membership
