Fancy putting Yoti - a free digital identity app to the test? iPad to be won for feedback

[AnnMumsnet]

The team at Yoti have asked us to find 500 MNers in the UK to put their a free digital identity app to the test - it’s open to all with a smartphone.

The team at Yoti say “The current way we prove who we are is outdated. It doesn’t make sense that we have to carry paper IDs and send photocopies for identity checks. It’s not right that adults can pretend to be teenage girls online etc. Yoti is here to fix that with a free app for iPhone and Android. Yoti makes it easier and safer for people to connect and share verified personal details with businesses and other people, to prove who they are and be confident in the details other people share with them - goodbye fraudsters or fake profiles.”

We are looking for testers to try out the ‘peer to peer’ aspect of Yoti before it’s officially launched later this year. This is when someone would like to check the identity of another person - for example if you were buying / selling online, wanted to check the identity of someone on a dating website, or let a tradesman into your house.

Selected testers will need to do the following:

1 Download the Yoti app (to their smartphone - either iPhone or Android)
2 Create a Yoti account (Note: after creating an account you will be prompted to add an ID document (driving licence or passport)

We then want testers to do the following:

a) Use Yoti to swap identity details with someone else - for example another Mumsnet user that you're friends with, or family member or friend (they would also need to have Yoti in order to swap details).

b) On the feedback thread, you will be asked to tell us where else (location, business) you’d love to use Yoti to prove your identity - be that proving your age on the door of a local club or the digital checkout of your nearby supermarket, your high street bank or even the local Post Office.

*Note - when Yoti is launched later this year, it will let people aged 12 upwards have a verified identity on their phone - perfect for kids that want to prove their age at the cinema (if they look young) or on public transport (if they look mature) - meaning they can leave their passports safe at home. This is subject to business that accept Yoti but things are moving fast in that space.

More info on keeping your data safe here

If you’d like to take part in this - please add your details here.

If selected, we will email you with instructions - we’d then want you to add your feedback and thoughts on a thread on MN as well as completing a survey about how family friendly the app and Yoti themselves are.

All selected testers who share feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win an iPad (worth £500).

Thanks
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I am normally all over testing stuff but I wont for this as I am really concerned about adding my personal ID to this database. I am not at all confident about its security. Sorry

I should add too that I will not be allowing my kids to use it either.

[Intotheclouds]

I agree with pyongyang , I don't like the idea of a database having everyone's ID's to me it screams identity theft.

[WeAreEternal]

That was my first thought too.

[CountessOfStrathearn]

It's really not clear what the safeguards are here to prevent access to personal data.

[WhereDoAllThePokemonGo]

This is what put me off signing up too, unfortunately.

[RicottaPancakes]

Don't do it! Why is paper "outdated" anyway. Not everything has to be digitalised because we can, sigh.

[AnnMumsnet]

Hi @Intotheclouds @PyongyangKipperbang thanks for taking the time to read and comment, we asked Yoti for clarification on this and they said: "Data protection and security is at the core of our mission and everything we do. We created Yoti to help people and businesses work together to tackle identity fraud and theft - with a safer way for people to connect and share their details securely. With Yoti, your personal details are encrypted & stored in a way that only you can access them. Even Yoti can not access your details, we just help you share what you want, with whom you want to. For more information around security & to find out what Yoti stand for check out //www.yoti.com/about"

@RicottaPancakes we asked Yoti about this and they said: "Paper is great for many things, but we believe a digital identity is more secure than a physical ID in our increasingly digital world - where we connect with a broad range of digital devices and services every day. A Passport or driving licence can be lost or stolen, copied or faked - but, each Yoti is verified, unique and secured with a 5 digit PIN. If you lose your phone, your Yoti can't be accessed without your 5 digit PIN. Also, if you’ve ever needed to confirm your name or age & used a Passport - you’re actually showing your address, birthplace, signature & more. Yoti lets you choose exactly what bits you need to share & who you share them with. For more information about our mission to make it safer to connect your data check out //www.yoti.com/about"

@CountessOfStrathearn Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. We asked Yoti for some more information on this and they said: "We didn’t want to bamboozle you with technology speak, but this is a great chance to tell you because we’re really passionate about it. We put the person you can trust most in charge of your data - you. We use bank level security to verify & encrypt your personal information. We store each detail (first name, last name, DOB etc) separately & give you the magic key to unlock & bring it back together via the Yoti app. You control, access & share the data you want to, with whom you wish. We can not see your details or who you share them with, we just help you manage & share them securely.

The app itself is protected by a PIN so if your phone ever gets lost or stolen personal details are safe & secure. We’re also ISO 27001 certified & independently reviewed by Cigital. For more information & to find out what we stand for check out //www.yoti.com/about"

[PyongyangKipperbang]

Thanks for updating but I have to say that I am still not convinced that this is secure enough. Once my ID is on that system then its out of my control, I dont have access to their servers so there is nothing I can do.

I am not reassured by bank level security either I am afraid!

[PatriciaHolm]

We didn’t want to bamboozle you with technology speak

Could they be more patronising?? I suspect a hell of a lot of us here wouldn't be bamboozled by it at all.

and no, "bank level security" isn't reassuring at all.

[DreamsInBlack]

Um, I don't have a driving licence or a passport! Because of this I've been looking at alternative ID options - which all require a driving licence or passport...

If it weren't for social media, even I would doubt if I were a real person.

[Sycamorewindmills]

No, I wouldn't risk it thanks.

[tiba]

As someone who loves the convenience of Apple Pay and anything to make my life easier I still wouldn't sign up to this.
I can't see how it would make my life any easier than it already is without the trust issues

[WorshipTheGourd]

I'd LOVE to try this but am put off by the 'bamboozle you with technology speak' and 'bank level security'.
Still, YOTI are getting great free feedback for how to pitch their concept to purchasers in the future!

[PyongyangKipperbang]

It was almost verging on Mansplaining tbh!

[RicottaPancakes]

Five digit pins aren't that secure really. It can be hacked into from millions of computers all over the world. My passport, on the other hand, is secure in a secret location in my house. You would have to physically break into my house to sreal it. My passport is in ONE location. Online information can be accessed from many many locations.

[gleegeek]

So glad I'm not alone in my scepticism! After all the hacking stuff recently, I want less and less of my identity online tbh. I'm not convinced!

[mermaidsandunicorns]

a) Use Yoti to swap identity details with someone else - for example another Mumsnet user that you're friends with, or family member or friend (they would also need to have Yoti in order to swap details).

Could you clarify this bit? Why would I swap my details with someone else. I am not at all comfortable with this!!

[SaltySeaBird]

Is it not possible to set up fake accounts? How do they verify our passport or driving licence is genuine and actually ours?

A one in 500 chance to win an iPad (even though my 1 year old DS broke mine a few weeks ago and I can't afford replace it) isn't enough to tempt me to sign up for this I'm afraid.

[CountessOfStrathearn]

I am still stunned at the reply to my (very reasonable) question being, "We didn’t want to bamboozle you with technology speak".

Absolutely stunning! Yes, best not confuse the little ladies with big words! I'll totally hand over all my personal data to you now!

[DadaAndMonkey]

I understand the hesitancy to adopt new ways to provide ID verification, I'm in my forties and it's hard to teach this old dog anything new.

That said, it wasn't that long ago that we paid by card with a carbon copy machine. Then they told us to use a four digit pin (less secure than a five digit one I imagine?) and now without a moments hesitation we just tap our card or even our phone to pay for our morning coffee or weekly shop.

Digital ID is coming, the Banks want it but before something can become mainstream it has to start with the end user first, on smaller applications. Proving that someone you are buying off on Facebook or eBay is genuine would be handy, as I understand it your "Yoti" is no different to the website verification certificate attached to the webpage you are viewing right now, without giving away all your personal information, you'll be able to give a pre-qualified form of ID to a stranger.

Imagine getting into a taxi on your own and know that the person driving is who they say they are.

How the company intend to store and protect your passport ID has to be explained but I imagine it will be no different to how Amazon store your credit card and address details.

More information here: www.techworld.com/security/who-are-you-how-yoti-wants-solve-digital-worlds-identity-crisis-3637542/ (I am not affiliated with Yoti or Techworld, I just spent five minutes googling the company and thought I'd share my findings).

[DrudgeJedd]

That Techworld article reads like a parody
People don't say things they "shoot" and "quip" while vaulting formidable hurdles. Why am I not surprised the founders were struck by inspiration for Yoti while attending an iron-man event.

[IceLollyInThePaddlingPool]

Women! You won't understand this, just send us your passports and be quiet.

[Srathore]

I am definitely interested in reviewing this app and participating in this study. I'm a member for my loca [email protected] police department newsletter and which campaigns. Did you know that bedford is the uk number one hotspot for cyber crime and identity theft? I was shocked to read the facts about this update. I would have guessed london, manchester, Birmingham or any bigger towns and cities to be targeted rather than Bedfordshire.

[Gazelda]

Hmm, I'm a bit sceptical too. I can't think why I'd want to share my identity with others, although I see merit in tradespeople having this facility. My elderly parents would still rather see a proper photographic ID card though!
If we're going to have an ID type system, then I'd (probably naively) prefer it to be government managed rather than an organisation I've never heard of or who's backers I don't know about.
I'll pass on this - sorry YOTI and MN.