Question 4: Do I have to give my ID?

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Question 4:  Do I have to give my ID?

Answer: There may be some circumstances where you are required to show ID to a business. However, you cannot be forced to hand over your ID for scanning. You always have the choice to walk away from a business if you are not comfortable with their trading conditions. However, you may not always be in a situation where you are able, or want, to walk away from a particular business. For example, the service may be something you really need, or you may simply just prefer not to have to go elsewhere.

As such, it is also useful to remember that the Privacy Act (NPP 8) gives you the right to transact with a business anonymously, as long as this is 'lawful and practicable' in the circumstances. In other words, unless there are good reasons why the business needs to identify you, such as because:

1. it is fundamental to the transaction (e.g. you want to join their online shopping service) or
2. there is some law that requires it to identify you (e.g. some licensing laws),

then you should be allowed to transact with them without having to show your ID or have it scanned. It is up to the business to explain why it needs to identify you.

This answer is a summary only. For more details, see our information sheet.

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