APDI consortium launched to tackle Asia-Pacific identity issues

The Asia Pacific Digital Identity Consortium (APDI) was officially inaugurated in Hakone, Japan, marking a key development in the advancement of cross-border digital identity solutions in the region.

APDI, the first organisation of its kind in the region, aims to impact over 4.78 billion people across 36 countries by enhancing regulatory alignment and addressing challenges such as identity theft, data forgery, and leakage. APDI brings together digital trust experts, including founding members DNP from Japan and Turing Space from Taiwan, core members Accredify from Singapore, LORDSYSTEM from South Korea, and ZADA Solutions from Myanmar. Together, they seek to foster a secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.

The consortium's mission is to establish standardised frameworks and governance structures to support practical cross-border use cases. It will initially focus on migrant workers, travellers, and overseas students. By 2025, APDI plans to onboard representatives from all countries in the region, facilitating real-world collaborations.

During its inauguration, APDI outlined a roadmap for technical cooperation and regulatory alignment among the Asia-Pacific nations. It also seeks to involve governments as advisors and engage in dialogue with digital identity-related organisations to enhance collaboration.

The rise of generative AI technologies presents new risks, including data forgery, leakage, and identity theft, making secure digital identity verification more critical. Unlike the European Union's EUDI Regulation, the Asia-Pacific region faces unique challenges, such as cultural diversity, fragmented systems, and uneven digital infrastructure. APDI aims to overcome these hurdles by connecting the Asia-Pacific with global digital trust initiatives.

APDI's initiatives are grounded on three core values: Trust, Bridge, and Inclusion. The goal is to deliver secure digital identity solutions that instil confidence across sectors, connect diverse stakeholders for collaboration, and ensure equitable access to digital identity, addressing the digital divide among underprivileged communities.

The consortium seeks to lead the development and implementation of a digital identity framework and infrastructure that is secure, portable, inclusive, and adaptable to the diverse needs of the region. This framework aims to enable easier cooperation with various industries under a unified system.