OIX's vision is: A world where we can all prove our identity and eligibility anywhere, using a simple universally trusted ID.

To achieve this vision we need Digital IDs that will interoperate across trust frameworks. Users cannot be expected to get a new Digital ID for each framework they encounter. Their existing Digital ID must adapt to the rules of new frameworks. It must be smart.

A Smart Digital ID will interpret the rules of any new trust framework it comes across and work out whether a user's credentials are acceptable in that framework, or whether the user needs to gather new credentials to meet the local needs of that trust framework. For instance, if a person has a UK issued Digital ID and flies to the USA, their Digital ID should still work. Not all the credentials in it will function, or even be relevant in the US, but key ones will interoperate. In particular, those that form the core of their identity information, such as their passport and driving license. 

In order for Digital IDs to be able to do this we must be able to describe the characteristics of the policies of a trust framework in an open way. OIX is working on the definition of these characteristics as part of it's Global Interoperabiltiy working group. Trust frameworks will then be able to describe the way they work, allowing Smart Digital IDs to intepret how to make a user's ID work in the new framework. 

This is an exciting and vital piece of global work that OIX is driving. We already have numerous trust frameworks collaborating with OIX on this, including ones from Canada, Germany, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Please get in touch if you wish to get involved.