The CIO Strategy Council invites all stakeholders to share and provide their input on a draft National Specification for Digital Credentials and Digital Trust Services. The specification aims to set baseline requirements for interoperability and trust amongst digital credentials issuers, verifiers, and holders.
Digital credentials are electronic representations of the physical certificates and IDs that enable the economy to function. Held in user-controlled digital wallets, they can include electronic versions of documents like plane tickets, driver’s licenses, university degrees and even certificates of incorporation for businesses. These applications are underpinned by technologies such as blockchain-based data registries and issuing and verifying systems that are collectively known as “digital trust services.”
The draft, CIOSC TS 115, National Technical Specification for Digital Credentials and Digital Trust Services, is available on the CIO Strategy Council website for public review and stakeholder feedback. The deadline for comments is January 27, 2023.
The CIO Strategy Council, in partnership with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Government of Canada, is happy to launch this public review. Once published, this technical specification will set minimum certification requirements to ensure that digital credentials and trust services are interoperable between businesses and governments and create a seamless experience for users. This work will inform a National Standard of Canada that will be developed under SCC’s accreditation.
“The Standards Council of Canada, on behalf of the Government of Canada, is pleased to work with CIO Strategy Council on this important initiative. This National Technical Specification, along with an accreditation program for digital credentials and digital trust services, will support the Government of Canada’s policies and play a critical role in establishing trustworthy digital credentials for Canadians.”
Elias Rafoul, SCC’s Vice-President, Accreditation Services Branch
“ We are proud to partner with the Standards Council of Canada and Government of Canada on this important initiative for digital credentials and digital trust services. This Technical Specification aims to set minimum requirements to ensure that digital credentials are interoperable between businesses and governments and create a seamless experience for Canadians. For this compelling reason we encourage all Canadians to actively engage in the public review.
Darryl Kingston, Senior Director, Standards, CIO Strategy Council
For media inquiries:
Julia Hancock
Senior Project Manager, Standards
CIO Strategy Council
julia.hancock@ciostrategycouncil.com
About the CIO Strategy Council
The CIO Strategy Council is Canada’s national forum that brings together the country’s most forward-thinking chief information officers and executive technology leaders to collectively mobilize on common digital priorities. Cutting across major sectors of the Canadian economy – public, private and not for profit – the Council harnesses the collective expertise and action of Canada’s CIOs to propel Canada as a digital-first nation. The CIO Strategy Council is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada and develops standards that support the data-driven economy.