Taiwan will be launching electronic national identity cards in 2019. That’s the word from the interior ministry on Monday.
The ministry said that the new cards will be embedded with microchips that will give the ID cards additional functions. It will merge the cards with health insurance cards and metro cards. It will also include what’s called “citizen digital certificate IC cards.” Those cards enable the government to identify users and offer them special personalized on-line services.
The interior ministry will choose a city with a small population and an advanced level of digital capabilities to conduct a pilot program in 2018. The government is planning to issue new electronic ID cards to all citizens in the year 2019.