Security News > 2024 > August > China starts testing national cyber-ID before consultation on the idea closes

Chinese app developers have signed up to beta test a national cyberspace ID system that will use facial recognition technology and the real names of users, according to Chinese media.

Among the 71 privately-owned internet apps and ten government apps reported to be involved in The National Network Identity Authentication Pilot Edition are messaging and social media platform WeChat, online marketplace Taobao, and social commerce and lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu.

Tencent's instant messaging service QQ and online ticketing platform China Railway 12306 were also said to be involved.

The two forms correspond to a citizen's real-life identity - presumably through encryption - and are intended to be authenticated and issued by a government national service platform.

The national cyberspace ID is meant to eliminate the need for citizens to provide their real-life personal information to internet service providers - a current requirement when using the internet in the Middle Kingdom.

It also takes away data retention chores from the ISPs and puts it in Beijing's capable hands instead. The voluntary national ID scheme was proposed by Beijing on July 26 and has not yet been adopted.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/08/05/china_cyber_id_pilot/