TWDI: China Launches Digital ID Trial, Malaysia's MyDigital ID Now Available on Smartphones

News

China Launches National Digital ID Trial Across 81 Apps

China has initiated a trial of its national digital identity system, just days after releasing draft rules for the public to review and comment. Users can now apply for their national digital ID through the National Web Identification Pilot Version app, developed by the Ministry of Public Security. For the registration process, users will be required to go through identity document verification using their national ID card and facial recognition.

The digital ID can be used across 81 apps, including 10 public service platforms and 71 commercial apps such as WeChat and Taobao.

Read more about the development here.

Malaysia's MyDigital ID Now Accessible Via Smartphones

Malaysia has launched the mobile version of its national single sign-on identity management system, MyDigital ID. Users can now download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store and register for their digital ID without needing to visit a physical kiosks. Users will be able to register to the system using facial recognition.

MyDigital ID has integrated access to several vital government services such as MyJPJ, HRMIS Mobile, MySejahtera, and the MyGov portal, with plans for further integrations. According to GovInsider, several financial institutions and e-wallet services have expressed interest in using MyDigital ID for customer authentication, similar to Singapore's SingPass ID system.

You can find the press release here.

Japan Introduces My Number Card Verification App

In response to incidents of forged My Number cards being used for identity verification, Japan's Digital Minister Taro Kono has overseen the trial of a new My Number Card Face-to-Face Verification app. Set for release in late August, the app aims to enhance identity verification by reading the IC chip on My Number cards using a smartphone, eliminating the need for a PIN.

The app will be available for businesses to download and use, particularly those required to verify customer identities under the Criminal Proceeds Act and the Mobile Phone Fraud Prevention Act. The release of the app follows the passing of a law by Japan’s parliament that would allow personal information from the national digital ID cards to be stored on smartphones.

Read more on this development here.

Decentralized Identity Organizations Collaborate on DID Standardization

Leaders in the field of decentralized identifiers (DID) have issued a joint Letter of Intent outlining plans to collaborate on and accelerate standardization of DID methods. The Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF), Trust Over IP (ToIP) Foundation, W3C Credentials Community Group, and W3C Decentralized Identifier Working Group are among the organizations involved in this initiative.

According to DIF, The collaboration aims to prioritize key DID method categories that have proven useful to-date, including self-resolvable, web-based, and decentralized methods. The group also plans to establish a working group and liaison agreements among key organizations to minimize barriers to participation, and engage the broader community of DID builders, innovators, and adopters in developing a detailed roadmap.

You can find the Letter of Intent here.

Arizona Introduces App for Mobile ID Age Verification

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (ADOT MVD) announced, on 30 July 2024, the launch of the Smart ID Verifier app. The app would allow Arizona retailers to accept mobile IDs to verify the ages of customers purchasing alcohol directly on their smartphones. The press release notes:

“Participating retailers selling age-restricted beverages have an efficient and secure way to verify a customer’s age. Retailers using the Smart ID Verifier app will only be provided the required information necessary for age verification, such as a customer's age and ID photo. The information is encrypted between devices, so customers do not need to hand over their smartphones.”

According to ADOT MVD, neither MVD nor Apple would have access to users’ personal information and neither can see when or where users present their mobile IDs.

You can find the press release here.

Upcoming Events

Identity Week America

Where? Washington DC, United States

When? 11-12 September

Identity Week America brings together over 4,000 industry leaders, experts, and innovators from various sectors including finance, government, retail, and travel to discuss and explore advancements in identity and security technologies.

The conference will feature more than 250 speakers across four conference stages, with sessions and open-air seminars designed to foster innovation and share new thinking. At the conference, Attendees will have opportunities to network, learn, and collaborate through the dynamic setup, which includes a start-up city and over 250 sponsors and exhibitors.

You can register for the conference here.

That's all for this week. We will be back in two weeks with more updates.

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