Navigating the digital landscape can be a bit of a maze, especially when it comes to keeping track of all the different government services and apps.

However, there's good news on the horizon for those of us who have been scratching our heads trying to differentiate between myGovID and the myGov services portal.

In a move that's set to simplify our digital experience, the Australian government has announced a significant change.

The Australian government’s digital ID app, myGovID, will be rebranded as ‘myID’ starting in mid-November.

This change is more than just a fresh coat of paint. It's a strategic decision aimed at eliminating the confusion that has surrounded these two separate entities.

For many, especially those who didn't grow up with a smartphone in hand, distinguishing between similarly named services can be unnecessarily complicated.

The upcoming rebranding to myID is a welcome step towards making digital government services more user-friendly and accessible.

The Australian government's digital ID app, myGovID, will be rebranded as ‘myID’ to avoid confusion with the myGov services portal. Credit: myGovID

The transition to myID will be seamless, delivered as an app update through the App Store or Google Play.

‘When myGovID changes to myID, users won’t need to do anything differently,’ the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) stated.

‘Existing users will not need to set up a new myID.’

‘Login details and the user’s identity strength level set up in myGovID will stay the same and users can continue to use the app in the same way to securely access participating government online services,’ they added.

The decision to rebrand was one of the recommendations from the Critical National Infrastructure myGov User Audit report released in January 2023.

The myGovID app, which will soon be known as myID, enables users to verify their identity online without repeatedly sharing personal documents like passports, birth certificates, and driver’s licences.

Login details and identity strength levels established in myGovID will remain intact, and the app's functionality will continue as usual, allowing secure access to over 150 government online services.

As we anticipate the new look and name, the ATO has also issued a warning to be vigilant against impersonation scams.

‘Scammers can make fake websites or apps that look just like myGovID or myID,’ the ATO cautioned.

‘Only download the myGovID (soon myID) app from the official app stores (Google Play and the App Store).’

‘Don’t click on suspicious links, open attachments or download any files from suspicious emails or SMS; we will never send an unsolicited SMS that contains a hyperlink,’ they continued.

Key Takeaways

• The Australian government's digital ID app myGovID will be rebranded as ‘myID’ to distinguish it from the myGov services portal.
• This change, scheduled for mid-November, aims to eliminate confusion and will be implemented through an app update.
• Existing myGovID users will not need to create a new account for myID, and their login details and identity strength level will remain unchanged.
• The ATO advised users to be vigilant for impersonation scams and to only download the app from official sources, while never clicking on unsolicited links.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this change. Have you used myGovID before, and do you think the rebrand to myID will make a difference in your digital dealings? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!

 

[natalielocket]

I am more confused now than ever before. I don't have these things on my phone will this change happen to the computer version of MyGov, will I need to download these apps for my phone, I really don't understand all these app things.

You can still use the usual MyGov site on the computer. I put very little on my phone. Easier to lose a phone than a laptop or desktop.

 

[Yeshewa]

Just another step to full CONTROL of all people…if those are not awake to this plan by now they probably never will be…

 

[Jay Jay]

Maybe I've just been lucky but I still use plain, old MyGov which has always worked aok. I don't have myGovID, whatever that is, and don't see the need for whatever the new, supposedly improved, one is.

 

[LesP]

My gov id does not recognise my AustralIan Naturalisation document

 

[IAN3005]

My gov id does not recognise my AustralIan Naturalisation document

There you go... 1st fault...

 

[LJ Cool]

I agree. I also worked with computers and programming for decades and I have never seen worse software than that used by the Australian government for critical tasks. I can't even log in to MyGovID without it incorrectly claiming - over and over again - that I have not identified myself correctly.

As for the ATO - a few years ago I acted for my mother to appeal a decision to heavily tax a lump sum payment of overdue pension entitlements. She received the lump sum because ComSuper had ''forgotten to respond to an application and forgotten to pay her"!!! (Probably a computer failure!). It took 9 months and over 1800 pages of correspondence for the ATO to tell me all appeal avenues had been exhausted and she had to pay. Then, within 2 hours of that advice, an ATO senior employee phoned me to say he had discovered that the computer was wrong. A programming error had led to the computer outputting data that did not match with the regulations. She owed nothing. My response was to ask how many people would have just paid without having the knowledge and patience to go through 9 months and 1800 pages of appeal? Certainly, my mother would have just paid the unfair bill - which was in the tens of thousands!

Rain 72
You are so right. This has happened to my husband and myself. I quite often wonder how people who are older and less up to date with technology, manage this minefield. We have half an idea of what we're doing but it's a bloody nightmare

 

[VM53]

Great news to hear. Let’s hope it reall works as smoothly as hoped!

 

[Choff5]

ANOTHER SMALLL STEP ON THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARDS TOTAL CONTROL BY COMPLETELY INEPT ARSEHOLE GOVERNMENT. (WHAT HAPPENED TO GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE. COLLECTIVE BASTARD GOVERNMENTS FUCKED IT UP)

Thats only in america

 

[Skydiver]

I don't use 'aps' I have MyGov on my computer and find it OK for most things BUT: My major complaint is with My Aged care, which I access through to MyGov site. It is absolutely impossible to navigate compared to Medicare and the ATO. A total disgrace!

 

[tumoulin]

They are working towards the TOTAL CONTROL of us. Just another step... 'one small step for mankind, a great leap into CONTROL'
In the end they will know EXACTLY the minute detail of what we are doing in live time.... mark my words. The following video was made in 2018 so yo can imagine where they are now....we are only scraping the surface....

OOOooohhh how scary ROFL.

 

[mOiOz]

Personally, my biggest concern is that they're putting all their eggs in one basket...!
One major accident, explosion, war, electrical failure or more likely, scam or hack intrusion... every bit of data on and about us, is obliterated...

 

[MCRAD]

A positive change for some who get MyGov and MyGovID confused.
Also having an app is much better. I use both sites regularly and hope that it will all be more user friendly.

 

[Gayle66]

This is an invasion of privacy initiated by the most secretive and destructive Government in the history of Australia. I don't approve and will be opting out. I do not consent to digital ID by this pathetic Government or any after. I will be asking to receive information by email.

 

[Veggiepatch]

This is an invasion of privacy initiated by the most secretive and destructive Government in the history of Australia. I don't approve and will be opting out. I do not consent to digital ID by this pathetic Government or any after. I will be asking to receive information by email.

Which government is that?

It has been going on for the last 123 years!

 

[biribo]

Here we go again.
How long have Gov been talking about a 'universal ID' and here it is slowly weeded in by 'transparent stealth'. How many forms of Personal ID are already out there. Holy Moley, give us a rest!

 

[Luckyus]

Two word description F--king Bullshit.

 

[Ziggy]

All is the part of the coming Global Digital ID... Albo is making a good progress.

https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sotf-the-pact-for-the-future.pdf

Signing documents around as per Klaus Schwab orders.

 

[freedy50]

This subject seems to have brought out the usual loonies.

I've had the MyGov, MyGov code generator and MyGovID apps on my phone for a few years and they always work very well.

I don't think calling it MyID will make a lot of difference, but I'll just update it at the relevant time and carry on as usual.

 

[deecreighton1]

You can still use the usual MyGov site on the computer. I put very little on my phone. Easier to lose a phone than a laptop or desktop.

Thank you for you reply I don't have all these apps on my phone, they are too confusing...maybe it is because I am getting too old

 

[Redone13]

Interesting to see if they have improved their security for users.