The way we live, work and access services is becoming increasingly digital.
At the same time, fraud, cybercrime and digital impersonation are becoming more sophisticated. Artificial intelligence can now be used to create convincing fake identities, documents, images, voices and messages.
In 2025, Canadians reported more than $704 million in fraud losses. Since only an estimated 5 to 10 per cent of fraud is reported, the real impact is likely much higher.
Privacy breaches also continue to affect Canadians. During the 2025–2026 fiscal year, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada received almost 700 breach reports from businesses, affecting more than 20 million Canadians.
We are sharing more information online than ever before, often with limited control over how it is collected, stored and reused.
Digital credentials can help.
What is a digital credential?
A digital credential is a secure and verifiable digital proof about a person, organization, product or device.
It can represent information normally found in a physical or electronic document, such as:
- A government issued ID
- A permit or licence
- A professional qualification
- An employee badge
- Proof of business registration
- An audit or compliance result
- A product certification
Digital credentials can confirm identity or prove specific information, such as a qualification, permission, registration or compliance status.
The W3C Verifiable Credentials standard provides a common international approach for creating and verifying digital credentials.
What are the benefits of digital credentials?
More secure digital interactions
Digital credentials can be cryptographically signed by the organization that issues them.
Verification technology can:
- Provide greater confidence that the information is authenticDigital credentials can be cryptographically signed by the organization that issuestion has been changed.
- Confirm who issued the credential
- Detect whether information has been changed
- Help identify forged or manipulated documents
Better privacy and control
Traditional verification often requires people and organizations to share more information than necessary.
Digital credentials can:
- Allow only the required information to be shared
- Keep the rest of the credential private
- Reduce the collection of unnecessary personal informationLimit the number of complete documents being copied and stored
- Give individuals and organizations more control over what they share
- Make it clearer who is requesting the information and why
For example, instead of sharing an entire driver’s licence, a person could simply prove that they are over a required age.
Faster and easier transactions
Digital credentials reduce the need to manually review emailed documents or arrange in person verification.
They Can
- Make information faster to verify
- Reduce administrative work
- Reduce errors and document fraud
- Support services outside regular business hours
- Improve the experience for users and service providers
More inclusive services
Digital credentials can make services easier to access for people who face barriers when interacting in person or during regular working hours.
They can people support who:
- Have difficulty arranging transportation
- Live in rural or remote communities
- Work schedules that do not align with opening hours
- Require language or interpretation support
- Experience accessibility barriers
- Need help from a family member, caregiver or support person
Well designed digital services give people more flexibility in how and when they access services.
Building trust in a digital world
Digital credentials provide a more secure, private and efficient way to issue, share and verify trusted information.
Digital Trust Canada helps organizations understand, adopt and implement digital credentials as a foundation for trusted digital interactions.