China’s New Digital ID System Trialed Across Over 80 Apps

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Photo: Supplied

What’s new: China’s newly proposed national digital identification system is being trialed across more than 80 internet service applications, days after Beijing released the draft rules on July 26 for the public to review and comment until August 25.

Internet users can now apply for their national digital ID ― showing user name, a “web number” and a QR code ― by logging onto a mobile app called National Web Identification Pilot Version, developed by China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS). To receive the digital ID in the app, users must go through steps such as national ID card verification and facial recognition.

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

China's new digital identification system is being trialed on over 80 internet applications after draft rules were released on July 26.
Users can obtain the digital ID via a mobile app after completing steps like national ID card verification and facial recognition.
The system aims to reduce the amount of personal information collected by internet platforms, addressing privacy concerns from real-name registration abuses.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

WeChat: WeChat is one of the 71 commercial applications where users can experiment with China's newly proposed national digital identification system. Users can apply for the digital ID via a mobile app developed by the Ministry of Public Security, undergo verification processes, and use the digital ID on the WeChat platform to potentially reduce the amount of personal information collected.

Taobao: Taobao is an online shopping service included in China's trial of the new national digital identification system. Users can experiment with their digital IDs on Taobao to enhance privacy and reduce personal data collection. The initiative aims to address concerns over excessive information gathered by internet platforms.

Zhaopin: Zhaopin is an online recruitment platform in China. It is one of the 81 applications involved in the trial of China's newly proposed national digital identification system. This system aims to reduce the personal information collected by internet platforms and is being tested across various public service platforms and commercial apps, including Zhaopin.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When