Central Louisiana News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are taking action to address the growing identity fraud crisis caused by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the spread of deepfake technology. They have introduced the Post Office Services for Trustworthy Identity (POST ID) Act, which aims to enable the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide identity verification and related services to the private sector, similar to what they currently offer to government agencies.

"AI is a powerful tool and while it has the potential for good, bad actors can exploit it to do harm," said Dr. Cassidy. "As we learn to navigate a world with AI, Americans must have tools to combat identity fraud."

The rise of AI and the sophistication of deepfake technology have made it increasingly difficult to verify people's identities online. In response to this challenge, the POST ID Act proposes the implementation of In-Person Proofing, a secure and reliable form of identity verification where individuals present physical credentials that are verified in person by an attendant. This method is resistant to various forms of fraud and abuse, particularly those that may be worsened by AI. The legislation seeks to extend this effective identity verification tool to the private sector, with the aim of reducing identity fraud facilitated by AI.

"Criminals using hacked personal information made it hard enough to verify a person's identity - now AI deepfakes have added a whole new challenge for the most common verification methods. The best way to confirm who someone is, is in-person verification. I am proud to co-sponsor this common-sense legislation with Senator Cassidy to enable American businesses to partner with the Post Office to protect their customers from identity thieves," said Senator Wyden.

The POST ID Act includes several key provisions:

• Allows the USPS to offer identity verification and related services to the private sector, building on their existing capabilities that are currently available only to government agencies;
• Authorizes the USPS to issue authenticators, such as physical security keys, to verified individuals for future interactions;
• Authorizes the USPS to conduct identity proofing at any USPS location or through authorized employees at other locations, such as the individual's home;
• Allows for enrollment in or creation of digital accounts or systems, with the individual's consent, including concurrent enrollment in multiple accounts or systems;
• Allows third parties to sponsor an individual's verification by paying the fees;
• Authorizes the USPS to charge fees to cover the costs of providing these services.

Dr. Cassidy crafted this legislation in response to a major cybersecurity breach at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles in June 2023, which exposed the data of every Louisianan with a state-issued driver's license, ID, or vehicle registration. Additionally, Louisiana ranks number two in identity theft, with nearly 25,000 reported cases in the state in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The Better Identity Coalition and Okta are supporting the POST ID Act.

"As we pointed out in our Policy Blueprint, adversaries have caught up with many of the systems America has used for remote identity proofing and verification, and the government needs to play a bigger role," said Better Identity Coalition Coordinator Jeremy Grant. "The Postal Service already provides in-person identity proofing services when Americans need to get a passport, and it's only natural that the private sector also be able to leverage those services when companies need a way to verify someone's identity in person. We are thrilled that Senator Cassidy and Wyden are introducing legislation to make that possible."

"Okta supports the POST ID Act, a bill to unlock a trusted new option for in-person identity verification in an age of deepfakes and AI-driven identity fraud. Authorizing the US Postal Service to partner with the private sector marks an important continuation of the public-private partnerships that are scaling trust and security in government services and enhancing the citizen experience. Okta sincerely thanks Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) for their thoughtful leadership and innovative thinking in support of further strengthening of our nation's cybersecurity posture," said Okta Head of U.S. Federal Affairs Michael Clauser.

To learn more about the POST ID Act, click here.

###

---

---

Next ArticlePrevious Article