Editorial

Some Channel Island teens can now prove their ID digitally

Jersey Islanders can now use digital identity app Yoti at nightclubs and events – giving them a simpler and safer way of proving their identity, while allowing them to leave valuable ID documents safe at home, says the Crown Dependency’s parliament

Posted 25 June 2018 by Gary Flood


In an intriguing step forward for Digital Identity acceptance, young people living on Jersey can now get into nightclubs and events with digital ID alone – and the island’s Police are major supporters of the idea.

That’s by using the mobile app Yoti, selected by the island’s government, the States of Jersey, as its official digital ID provider back in March, with this move of verifying the age of people on their nights out as the first use of the technology.

Brandishing their smartphones with app will now get youngsters into nightspots like Ce Soir and Tanguys, plus its Weekender Festival and Out There events.

“We have worked closely with Yoti and our colleagues in the licensing trade on this project and we welcome the use of Yoti in our local nightclubs and pubs,” confirmed Sergeant Paul Kemp of The States of Jersey Police Licensing Unit.

“We hope this will help to prevent under-age drinking and the associated harm that it can cause. As well as preventing the swapping and lending of ID by young people it also offers the ability to prove your age and identity without having to take valuable documents, such as passports and driving licences, every time you go out.”

“I’m very excited to announce our partnership with Yoti,” enthused Warren Le Sueur, Director of The Weekender Festival. “I believe it is the future of ID and the app helps reduce underage drinking and lost ID documents, two issues that have been a focus for us for a number of years.

“Young people carrying around valuable passports is an old method and potentially poses a security risk which the free Yoti app solves. I really do believe this is the perfect and most progressive solution we have been yearning for.”

“[Our] selection as Jersey’s digital ID provider was a huge milestone for the team and we’re delighted to start rolling out to businesses and venues on the island,” added CEO of Yoti Robin Tombs.

“Citizens and international visitors will be able to prove their age and identity in a simple and secure way, and enjoy going to nightclubs and events without worrying about losing valuable ID documents.”

Launched last November Yoti, free to download, is available for Apple and Android phones and takes less than five minutes to set up; users take a selfie and scan a passport with their smartphone. Software then verifies the selfie and photo ID match, checks the integrity of the photo ID and creates a secure digital identity that the individual controls.

Individuals can share specific identity attributes, for example just their age and name, rather than disclosing their full identity with a paper ID document, with the company claiming its security measures mean only the individual can access their data and its staff cannot see or access any personal data after the accounts have been created and verified.

The States of Jersey is the official parliament and government of Jersey, a British Crown dependency.