3 December 2007
HREOC welcomes new standards
on safety and accessibility in electronic banking
Human Rights Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Disability Discrimination, Graeme Innes AM, today welcomed the release of the Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) guidelines for accessible authentication of financial transactions.
Guiding Principles for Accessible Authentication has been developed to assist banks and other financial institutions to design and implement authentication systems that protect against fraud in a manner that does not exclude customers with disabilities and older people.
“As the electronic financial services we use become increasingly advanced, we need to ensure that the corresponding authentication systems set up to protect customers do not discriminate against any section of the community,” said Commissioner Innes.
“Businesses throughout the world are developing a range of authentication systems for use with services such as ATMs and Internet banking, including tokens, SMS messaging and biometric systems such as retina scanning. However, if you cannot read access codes, hear instructions or manipulate tokens because of your age or disability, there is a danger you will become disadvantaged by the very systems that provide better security and convenience to other customers.”
Over the past few years the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has been working closely with the ABA and its members to improve access to electronic financial services for customers with disabilities.
“HREOC had been receiving feedback from people with disability, highlighting the difficulties they experience with some of the electronic security systems being used to reduce financial transaction fraud,” Commissioner Innes said.
The ABA responded quickly by establishing a Working Group, which included some of its members and representatives from Abacus Australian Mutuals, HREOC and the disability community, to develop the Guiding Principles.
“With the adoption of these Guiding Principles I am confident Australia’s financial service providers will be at the forefront of world best practice for ensuring authentication systems are as accessible as possible to all members of our community,” said Commissioner Innes.
The Guiding Principles for Accessible Authentication are available on ABA’s website at www.bankers.asn.au or via email: reception@bankers.asn.au
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay (02) 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
