Q&A
Discussion on digital wallet identity verification process
1:09:14
·
136 sec
Council Member Paladino and CTO Matthew Fraser engage in a detailed discussion about the proposed digital wallet feature for MyCity, focusing on identity verification and fraud prevention measures.
- Fraser explains the concept of a digital wallet that would consolidate various benefits (transit, food, financial) in one place
- He emphasizes that identity confirmation would be part of the application review process before any benefits are distributed to the wallet
- Fraser details that the existing eligibility review process for benefits would be integrated into the digital wallet system
- The discussion highlights the importance of thorough identity validation before any assets are added to a user's digital wallet
Vickie Paladino
1:09:14
Now going to the wallet, how do you plan to verify the identity of individuals using the city digital wallet or otherwise prevent identity fraud.
Matthew Fraser
1:09:25
Yep.
1:09:26
So one of the things that we're looking at right now, and and the wallet is a critical piece of how services will be rendered going forward.
1:09:34
The best way I can I can put this is that when you look at whether you get transit benefits or you get food benefits or you get financial benefits, those are all served to you on different means, meaning that in some cases you'll get a check, in other cases you'll get a card, and and you have to manage the balances on all those things individually?
1:09:52
The concept of having a digital wallet where you can bring all those things together is one of the things that we are diligently exploring.
1:09:59
But we wanna ensure that when we do that, it's done Right.
1:10:03
Yeah.
1:10:03
So the same what we're exploring at this moment is when you get by the time you get a check from us for anything, for any benefit, or you get a card, there's an eligibility review that's performed.
1:10:15
Your identity has been confirmed, and that card that check is issued to a person.
Vickie Paladino
1:10:19
How do they but how do you confirm the identity?
Matthew Fraser
1:10:23
So the identity would be confirmed as part of the application review process for anyone that's applying for a specific benefit.
1:10:30
So because you signed up for a digital wallet or you signed up for the service theoretically because it's not in place yet.
1:10:38
But when you apply for one of those services and you say I want that wallet, that wallet will not have any assets inside until your identity is validated as part of the normal application review process.
1:10:50
So let's say, for this moment, if we had New York City, New York City Wallet, dot m I c dot gov and you applied for that wallet.
1:11:00
Mhmm.
1:11:00
And before any benefits were distributed to the wallet, someone would have to confirm that you were eligible for those benefits.
1:11:06
They would have to link those benefits to a wallet and to make sure that information goes into a place where we know you are, who you say you are.
Clayton Banks
1:11:13
And
Matthew Fraser
1:11:13
that that's how we would that's how we would prevent fraud.
1:11:16
Making sure that the people that are responsible for reviewing the applications today, reviewing the specific details around the person that's applying, making sure that all those components are part of a part of their review before a single benefit was issued onto the wallet.
