Japan Mandates App to Verify National ID Cards Amid Rising Counterfeit Concerns 📱

Summary:

  1. My Number Card Issues: Japan’s My Number Card, a national identity document introduced in 2015 to streamline social security, taxation, and other government services, has faced numerous problems including data breaches, malfunctioning card readers, and database errors. These issues have eroded public trust and stalled adoption of the cards.

  2. Counterfeit Concerns: Recently, there has been an increase in counterfeit My Number Cards used for fraudulent activities such as purchasing goods and mobile phones under false identities. This surge in counterfeits has prompted the Japanese government to take action.

  3. Mandatory Verification App: Digital Minister Taro Kono has announced a new app designed to verify the legitimacy of My Number Cards. The app will be mandatory and utilizes smartphone cameras to read printed information on the card and compare it to data stored in the card’s chip. This process ensures that the information matches without requiring users to input their PIN, aiming to curb the use of fake IDs and restore confidence in the My Number system.

Read more at The Register