National digital identity systems

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Many nations have implemented, are implementing, or have proposed nationwide digital identity systems.

Contents

Although many facets of digital identity are universal owing in part to the ubiquity of the Internet, some regional variations exist due to specific laws, practices and government services that are in place. For example, digital identy can use services that validate driving licences, passports and other physical documents online to help improve the quality of a digital identity. Also, strict policies against money laundering mean that some services, such as money transfers need a stricter level of validation of digital identity.

Digital identity in the national sense can mean a combination of single sign on, and/or validation of assertions by trusted authorities (generally the government).

General characteristics

Potential benefits of a national digital identity system include: [1]

However, a national digital identity system reduces anonymity and puts people at risk of data breaches. [2] [3] They may also be prone to human rights abuses. [3]

Asia

China

China's Resident Identity Card cross references to other services (banking, Internet service providers, etc.) and thus acts as a digital identity system.[ citation needed ]

India

An example of an Aadhaar card A sample of Aadhaar card.jpg
An example of an Aadhaar card

In India, the Aadhaar card is used as a digital ID service, mainly for government institutions. [4]

Iran

The Iranian identity card is ubiquitous. [5]

Singapore

Singapore's SingPass is being extended to National Digital Identity for government services, though the intent is to extend it to private institutions.[ citation needed ] The corporate login version is called CorpPass.[ citation needed ]

Europe

European Union

On June 3, 2021, the European Commission proposed a framework for a European Digital Identity. It is planned to be available to citizens, residents, and business within the EU. Though it should be suitable for online and offline private and public services, it can be used by participants for personal identification or to provide confirmation about specific personal information. Benefits included are the EU wide recognition of every digital identity card, a secure way on how to control the amount of data and information the user wants to share with the services as well as the simple operation via digital wallets using several mobile devices. [6] [7]

Estonia

An example of an Estonian identity card from 2021 New Estonian ID card (2021)(back).jpg
An example of an Estonian identity card from 2021

The Estonian identity card can be used by governments and some third parties for authentication.[ citation needed ]

Finland

One of the earliest digital ID cards were issued in Finland in December 1999 to Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen. [8]

Germany

There is an online ID card available in Germany. Users can identify themselves securely on the internet, at vending machines or several citizen terminals. Thereby business and authority matters can be easily worked out electronically to save time, cost and money. [9] In the framework of a competition called "Schaufenster Sichere Digitale Identitäten", the German Federal Ministry of economy and energy created a project, called "IDunion". This project was launched on April 1, 2021, and aims to create the opportunity for inhabitants to get easier access to education, mobility, e-government, industry, health care and much more. [10]

Italy

The Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale (SPID) can be used as a digital ID for public and private institutions. [11]

Monaco

Since June 2021, Monaco citizens and residents can get digital IDs for public institutions and for access to telecom or electricity services.[ citation needed ]

Ukraine

Ukraine introduced online ID cards in April 2020, and fully legalized the use of online ID documents on August 23, 2021. [12] Ukrainian citizens can use an app called "Diia" for identification purposes. [13] Every user will be able to choose whether to use the paper documents or digital ones as for authorities will not be able to demand paper documents from citizens if they have digital ones. Digital identity can be used not only for provision of public and government services but also to receive deliveries, confirm age in supermarkets and open new bank accounts. [12]

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom's system GOV.UK Verify went live on 24 May 2016. [14] [15] In 2022, the UK government announced that GOV.UK Verify would be closing down, becoming unusable by April 2023. [16] [ needs update ]

The system provides a single login for digital government services which verifies the user's identity in 15 minutes. [17] It allowed users to choose one of several identity verification services, and provided access to 22 digital government services. [18]

Australia

In Australia, MyGov/MyGovID and Australia Post DigitaliD provide a means of single sign on. MyGov only supports government agencies[ citation needed ], whereas Australia Post's DigitaliD solution supports private institutions.[ citation needed ]

Caribbean

In the Caribbean represent particular challenges due to the region's geographies, political context, social inequalities and cultural diversity. In the case of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, Digital ID national systems have been particularly illustrious of pressing issues such as the reinforcement of discriminatory biases and severe limitations to the right to privacy. Regardless of claims over these issues by civil society organisations and social movements, policies have progressed in both countries.[ citation needed ]

Jamaica

Dominican Republic

United States

Although no ubiquitous digital identity service exists, U.S. Social Security numbers act as a national identity number and can be validated by authorized private institutions using the American government's Social Security Number Validation Service.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

Verification or verify may refer to:

An identity document is any document that may be used to prove a person's identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card, or passport card. Some countries issue formal identity documents, as national identification cards that may be compulsory or non-compulsory, while others may require identity verification using regional identification or informal documents. When the identity document incorporates a person's photograph, it may be called photo ID.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic identification</span> Digital proof of identity

An electronic identification ("eID") is a digital solution for proof of identity of citizens or organizations. They can be used to view to access benefits or services provided by government authorities, banks or other companies, for mobile payments, etc. Apart from online authentication and login, many electronic identity services also give users the option to sign electronic documents with a digital signature.

A digital identity is data stored on computer systems relating to an individual, organization, application, or device. For individuals, it involves the collection of personal data that is essential for facilitating automated access to digital services, confirming one's identity on the internet, and allowing digital systems to manage interactions between different parties. It is a component of a person's social identity in the digital realm, often referred to as their online identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Identity document forgery</span> Fake IDs and their production

Identity document forgery is the process by which identity documents issued by governing bodies are illegally copied and/or modified by persons not authorized to create such documents or engage in such modifications, for the purpose of deceiving those who would view the documents about the identity or status of the bearer. The term also encompasses the activity of acquiring identity documents from legitimate bodies by falsifying the required supporting documentation in order to create the desired identity.

Electronic authentication is the process of establishing confidence in user identities electronically presented to an information system. Digital authentication, or e-authentication, may be used synonymously when referring to the authentication process that confirms or certifies a person's identity and works. When used in conjunction with an electronic signature, it can provide evidence of whether data received has been tampered with after being signed by its original sender. Electronic authentication can reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft by verifying that a person is who they say they are when performing transactions online.

Mobile identity is a development of online authentication and digital signatures, where the SIM card of one's mobile phone works as an identity tool. Mobile identity enables legally binding authentication and transaction signing for online banking, payment confirmation, corporate services, and consuming online content. The user's certificates are maintained on the telecom operator's SIM card and in order to use them, the user has to enter a personal, secret PIN code. When using mobile identity, no separate card reader is needed, as the phone itself already performs both functions.

An identity verification service is used by businesses to ensure that users or customers provide information that is associated with the identity of a real person. The service may verify the authenticity of physical identity documents such as a driver's license, passport, or a nationally issued identity document through documentary verification. Additionally, also involve the verification of identity information (fields) against independent and authoritative sources, such as a credit bureau or proprietary government data.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German identity card</span> German identity document

The German Identity Card is issued to German nationals by local registration offices in Germany and diplomatic missions abroad, while it is produced at the Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghana Card</span> National identity card of Ghana

The Ghana Card is the national Identity card that is issued by the Ghanaian authorities to Ghanaian citizens – both resident and non-resident, legal and permanent residents of foreign nationals. It is proof of identity, citizenship and residence of the holder. The current version is in ID1 format and biometric. It is issued by the National Identification Authority of Ghana and Regarded as a property of the country as such. In July 2023, through the initiative of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, new card numbers were issued to newborn babies as part of pilot program to incorporate newborn babies unto the database.

The Lebanese identity card is a compulsory Identity document issued to citizens of the Republic of Lebanon by the police on behalf of the Lebanese Ministry of Interior or in Lebanese embassies/consulates (abroad) free of charge. It is proof of identity, citizenship and residence of the Lebanese citizens.

Biometrics refers to the automated recognition of individuals based on their biological and behavioral characteristics, not to be confused with statistical biometrics; which is used to analyse data in the biological sciences. Biometrics for the purposes of identification may involve DNA matching, facial recognition, fingerprints, retina and iris scanning, voice analysis, handwriting, gait, and even body odor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple Wallet</span> Digital wallet platform by Apple

Apple Wallet is a digital wallet developed by Apple Inc. and included with iOS and watchOS that allows users to store Wallet passes such as coupons, boarding passes, student ID cards, government ID cards, business credentials, resort passes, car keys, home keys, event tickets, public transportation passes, store cards, and – starting with iOS 8.1 – credit cards, and debit cards for use via Apple Pay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwegian identity card</span> National identity card of Norway

The Norwegian identity card, commonly referred to as the national identity card in Norway, is a non-compulsory biometric identity document issued since 30 November 2020. It is one of two official identity documents issued by the Norwegian Police Service, the other being the Norwegian passport. It is only issued to Norwegian citizens, and may indicate citizenship so that it can be used as a travel document facilitating freedom of movement within the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Area. For travel within the Nordic countries no identity documentation is legally required for Nordic citizens due to the Nordic Passport Union.

Australia does not have a national identity card. Various Identity documents of Australia may be used or required to prove a person's identity instead of a national identity card, whether for government or commercial purposes such as:

Digital identity is used in Australia by residents to validate who they are over digital media, such as over the Internet.

GOV.UK Verify was an identity assurance system developed by the British Government Digital Service (GDS) which was in operation between May 2016 and April 2023. The system was intended to provide a single trusted login across all British government digital services, verifying the user's identity in 15 minutes. It allowed users to choose one of several companies to verify their identity to a standard level of assurance before accessing 22 central government online services.

Google Wallet is a digital wallet platform developed by Google. It is available for the Android, Wear OS, and Fitbit OS operating systems, and was announced on May 11, 2022, at the 2022 Google I/O keynote. It began rolling out on Android smartphones on July 18, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samsung Wallet</span> Digital wallet platform by Samsung

Samsung Wallet is a digital wallet platform developed by Samsung. It is available for the Samsung Galaxy-exclusive One UI Android operating system, and was announced on February 9, 2022, at the February 2022 Samsung Unpacked event. It combines both Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Icelandic identity card</span> National identity card of Iceland

The Icelandic identity card, is a voluntary identity document issued by Registers Iceland since 12 April 1965. It is one of three official identity documents issued by the Icelandic Government, along with the Icelandic passport and Icelandic driving licence. It is only issued to Icelandic citizens regardless of age and may indicate citizenship, so that it can be used as a travel document facilitating freedom of movement within the European Free Trade Association and the rest of the European Economic Area. For travel within the Nordic countries no identity documentation is legally required for Nordic citizens due to the Nordic Passport Union.

References

  1. Scaria 2022, p. 2.
  2. Access Now 2019, p. 5.
  3. 1 2 Solomon, Brett (28 September 2018). "Digital IDs Are More Dangerous Than You Think". Wired. ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  4. "On biometric IDs, India is a 'laboratory for the rest of the world'". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN   0882-7729 . Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. Jarrahi, | Javad (26 March 2021). "Iran unveils new e-government components as digital ID importance grows | Biometric Update". www.biometricupdate.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  6. "European Digital Identity". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  7. "Press corner". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  8. https://rm.coe.int/handbook-e-democracy/16809fda61
  9. "Der Online-Ausweis". Bundesministerium des Innern, für Bau und Heimat (in German). Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  10. Ehneß, Susanne (4 May 2021). "Die "Digitale Identität" löst den Ausweis ab". www.security-insider.de (in German). Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  11. Rome, Wanted in (5 November 2021). "Italy's digital identity system: What is SPID and how do I get it?". Wanted in Rome. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine - Ministry of Digital Transformation: Ukraine is the first country in the world to fully legalize digital passports in smartphones". www.kmu.gov.ua. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  13. Antoniuk, Daryna (30 March 2021). "Ukraine makes digital passports legally equivalent to ordinary ones | KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice". KyivPost. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  14. Burton, Graene (25 May 2016). "Gov.UK Verify: Late, unnecessary and finally launching this week". www.computing.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  15. Evenstad, Lia (19 May 2016). "Gov.uk Verify to go live 24 May 2016". Computer Weekly. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  16. "GOV.UK Verify". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  17. Jee, Charlotte (24 May 2016). "UK government identity scheme GOV.UK Verify launched today: What is GOV.UK Verify? GOV.UK Verify explained". Computerworld. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  18. Merrett, Neil (16 February 2017). "GOV.UK Verify, NHS numbers and the 25 million user challenge". Government Computing Network. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017.

Bibliography

Further reading