ROC mulls switch to smart ID cards in 2017

2015-05-12

A plan incorporating smart technology into the ROC’s seventh-generation identification cards by 2017 at the soonest is under consideration by the Ministry of the Interior.

The measure enables an ID card to contain driver’s license and National Health Insurance data. Personal information will be safeguarded by a state-of-art protection system and accessible only by relevant authorities.

MOI Minister Chen Wei-zen said May 11 that the proposal is in line with international trends and will boost efficiency while saving taxpayer dollars.

“In addition, there is no issue with security concerns as all government agencies require authorization from the MOI before granted access to the closed national household registration system linked with the ID cards.”

According to Chen, the ministry will assess the feasibility of the plan and determine interministerial integration requirements before taking further action.

The ID cards and expanded applications for Taiwan’s citizen digital certificates, which enable ROC nationals to file tax returns and various official affairs online, are important planks in the Cabinet’s smart Internet white paper released last month.

Initial estimates indicate that 18.8 million holders of paper-based sixth-generation ID cards will switch to the 7G version if the proposal is OK’d by the Cabinet.

Going forward, ID card functions could be expanded to include digital certification, electronic voting, mobile payment and tax collection.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=230234&ctNode=413)