Minns government launches Digital Photo Card trial in Auburn, Blacktown and Parramatta

More than 100,000 NSW residents will be able to share their ID with a simple “digital handshake” under a new pilot program using facial-recognition technology to prevent identity fraud and improve privacy.

Woman holding credit card and scanning face id by smart phone for shopping online sitting on sofa in living room at home. Hologram virtual icon high tech.

More than 100,000 NSW residents will be able to share their ID with a simple “digital handshake” under a new pilot program from the Minns government using facial-recognition technology to prevent identity fraud and improve privacy.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Digital Photo Card holders across the state can access an upgraded card this month in a major step forward in developing the NSW Digital ID and Wallet system to international standards.

Unlike the existing version of the digital Photo Card in the Service NSW app, which serves as a proof of identity with the same security features as driver’s license, users will use facial recognition to confirm their identity to digitally share their information in real-time without handing over their phone or physical card.

The pilot program will start on Wednesday at three initial Service NSW Centres in Auburn, Blacktown and Parramatta, where staff will use a scanning device to verify the credentials in a quick “digital handshake”.

Digital Government Minister Jihad Dib said the technology will allow customers to complete eligible transactions without unnecessarily sharing full personal details including addresses and birth dates.

The current digital Photo Card eligible for the upgrade.

Customers will be able to quickly scan their upgraded Photo Card under the trial.

“This paves the way for more credentials to be rebuilt to the new international security standard, allowing people to only share the information they choose and creating easier access to essential documents, including in an emergency,” he said.

“Upgrading this credential means that over time, more than one million NSW residents who have a Photo Card instead of a driver's licence can also benefit from these security and privacy enhancements, including people who are vulnerable, elderly, disabled or new migrants.”

Digital Government Minister Jihad Dib said the technology will allow customers to complete eligible transactions without unnecessarily sharing full personal details. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said feedback from the pilot, which will test how the card verifies and digitally shares information with customer consent, could help plan for future rollouts across other licenses and credentials if successful.

“The NSW Digital Photo Card will follow international standards allowing it to eventually be used across other states, territories and countries while making it harder for someone else to use credentials and pretend to be you,” she said.

“The pilot uplifts the security of this primary document and enhances the privacy protections to help keep your identity information and credentials more secure.”

Customers who have an existing digital Photo Card can voluntarily participate in the pilot program by upgrading their online ID in only a matter of minutes.

Consultation will begin in late 2025 on new laws to officially recognise the technology as a valid form of identification across government and commercial sectors.

Originally published as Minns government launches Digital Photo Card trial in Auburn, Blacktown and Parramatta