The UK Post Office is getting into the digital identity game thanks to a new partnership with Yoti. The two organizations have teamed up to release a new EasyID app, which provides users with a digital identity document that can be stored on a standard smartphone.
In that regard, EasyID is comparable to Yoti’s own digital identity offering. To make a free EasyID account, British residents need to enter their phone number, a 5 digit PIN, and submit a selfie and a picture of a photo ID. Once that process is complete, they can use EasyID as proof of identity with any venue or organization that recognizes Yoti’s IDs.
That means that there are already more than 25,000 locations that will accept EasyIDs in the UK. That number includes more than 10,500 Post Office branches, where people can present their EasyID to claim a parcel in their name. EasyID was designed to give people more control over their personal information, so they will not need to disclose any unnecessary details in that situation. They will instead be able to use their app to reveal their name (and only their name), and will be able to leave with a parcel as long as the name is a match.
The same is true in other situations that require other information. For example, EasyID can be used for proof of age when buying lottery tickets or other age-restricted goods, and will not disclose any information that is not needed for that transaction. EasyID will be accepted at Payzone locations and at many convenience stores in the UK, and can also be used with digital businesses (such as dating sites) that have partnered with Yoti.
Verification can be carried out with either phone tap or a QR code scan to provide people stronger identity assurances. Yoti and the Post Office indicated that the EasyID is one of several products and services that they plan to introduce in the coming years.
“Having the app means you don’t need to show a physical copy of your driving licence or passport to prove your identity, meaning a quicker and safer experience in a branch,” said Post Office CEO Nick Read “We see this as an exciting opportunity for customers and postmasters alike and expect the app to become a standard way of verifying ID for many businesses nationwide.”
Yoti’s digital identity app passed 10 million downloads earlier this year. The company has also been taking steps to improve the accuracy of its age estimation platform.
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