Taiwan’s highest watch-dog body, the Control Yuan, has demanded that the interior ministry review its new digital ID card or eID project.
In a report released earlier, the Control Yuan said society has paid a hefty price because of the government’s failure to communicate with the public over the launch of eID. The Control Yuan said the interior ministry “sidestepped issues, missed main points in its handling of the launch, and introduced procedures to communicate that ended up being mere formalities.
The government has suspended its plan to roll out digital ID cards following public concerns over cybersecurity and incomplete legislation.
In an interview on Thursday, Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-yung said the government will handle the matter in line with the “suggestions”.
Hsu shrugged off concerns that the NT$300 million (US$ 10 million) already spent on purchasing chips and other equipment could become bad debt, saying that the equipment can still be used in the future.