SALT LAKE CITY—In this day and age of AI protecting privacy and digital identity has become more important than ever. Rep. Paul Cutler, R-Centerville is sponsoring SB275 that creates the State-Endorsed Digital Identity Program.

“Last year the legislature passed SB260 which established key guiding principles for digital identity,” Cutler said when presenting his bill on the House floor March 4. “That set up some very important things that we all rely on, such as digital identity belongs to an individual, not to the state. That individuals control their own digital identity.”

It included strong privacy and anti surveillance guardrails into the statute which is becoming more and more important in this age of AI, he said. “It required us to work carefully with stakeholders and work on the technical details of this before any implementation.”

Cutler said this year they’re coming back with the implementation plan. “The purpose of SB275 is to now implement that state endorsed digital identity. We’ve been working with stakeholders including all of the big digital wallet providers on implementation details, working with Better Identity Coalition and those who care deeply about how they do digital identity.”

SB275 includes a Digital Identity Bill of Rights, he said. “This makes it clear that we have a right to use a physical ID instead of a digital one. That no one can be compelled to use digital ID. The right to disclosure which means you get to choose what you disclose in terms of your age or other characteristics when you present a digital ID. Only those attributes necessary can be revealed.”

Most importantly, the public has the right to be free from surveillance and tracking or profiling in this digital age and there is a right to transparency for people to understand how this system is operating, said Cutler.

SB275 creates the State Endorsed Digital Identity program to roll out these digital identities that mandates regular reporting to the legislature, he said. “It makes sure that key technical infrastructure that's required for this program remains in Utah and has a number of standards around that to prevent misuse or overreach.”

Cutler said some people have asked why there is a need for digital identity. “The reality is, if we don’t do this, then we let the big tech companies establish their own standards which will not include protections against surveillance and protections for the individual.”

There are many states watching Utah, he said. “They are interested in joining our coalition.”

“This is a bill that I have spent the last couple of years, probably three years, working on,” said Rep. Kristen Chevrier, R-District 54. “I am very excited to finally see it here for a vote. There have been so many people who have worked on this. We’ve brought in a huge coalition of people and I would encourage a yes vote on this bill.”

“SB275 will allow us to compete responsibly in digital innovation while staying grounded in our core principles of liberty, privacy and transparency,” Cutler said. 

  The bill passed out of the House unanimously. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.