Security News > 2024 > August > Japan mandates app to ensure national ID cards aren't forged

The Japanese government has released details of of an app that verifies the legitimacy of its troubled My Number Card - a national identity document.

My Number Card ran afoul of data breaches, reports of malfunctioning card readers, and database snafus that linked cards to other citizens' bank accounts.

Now, according to Japan's Digital Ministry, counterfeit cards are proliferating to help miscreant purchase goods - particularly mobile phones - under fake identities.

Digital minister Taro Kono yesterday presented his solution to the counterfeits: a soon to be mandatory app that confirms the legitimacy of the card.

The app uses the camera on a smartphone to read information printed on the card - like date of birth and name.

The country needs high adoption for several reasons, not least of which is a plan to replace health insurance cards with the My Number ID cards this year.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/08/02/japan_smartcard_verification_app/