Chinese citizens can use a Smartphone as a passport
January 01, 2018 | 12:50 |3965
The Chinese government has launched a new pilot program to create a virtual passport, integrated into the mobile application WeChat, which will enable the people of the Celestial Empire to verify their identity with a Smartphone. The new system is now in test mode launched in Guangzhou City and the surrounding areas. It is considered that from the beginning of next year the system can cover the whole country. The new electronic certificate will have equal legal force with a regular passport, which means that citizens will be able to travel inside the country, stay at hotels, register business, and use other public services.Arslan KEMALOV
To authorize a virtual passport, the user must purchase the WeChat application, enter the personal data and upload the photo. Information will be sent to the police database, where it is confirmed. At the end of registration, the user receives an electronic identity within the application.
It is expected that the project will help to strengthen the online security of users, as the authentication of a virtual passport will use face recognition technology.
The project was developed with the cooperation of the research center of the Ministry of Public Security of the PRC and the technical team of WeChat, as well as with the support of various banks and other government structures.
