The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Digital Benefits Network (DBN) at Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation have announced a new collaboration. The initiative aims to develop digital identity guidelines to support public benefits programs, including those that assist beneficiaries in accessing and paying for food, housing, medical care, and other basic living expenses.

In response to increased fraud and cybersecurity threats during the COVID-19 pandemic, some agencies administering benefits have integrated new safeguards such as individual digital accounts and identity verification into online applications. However, certain approaches, particularly those relying on facial recognition or data brokers, have raised concerns about privacy and data security, due process issues, and potential biases that may disproportionately impact communities of color and marginalized groups.

NIST, DBN, and CDT plan to collaborate with various stakeholders—including federal partners, benefits program administrators, digital identity experts, advocates, and beneficiaries—to design guidance aimed at ensuring beneficiaries can access life-sustaining benefits while maintaining low fraud rates.

Further information is available on NIST’s website.