Every effort would be made to launch the “Taiwan digital identity wallet” by the end of the year as part of efforts to improve the government’s digital services and boost personal information protection, Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) said on Friday.
Lin, who took over as head of the Ministry of Digital Affairs in a Cabinet reshuffle earlier in the week, said in an interview that the digital ID, a plan unveiled by the ministry last year, would initially allow people to identify themselves in limited circumstances, including at convenience stores, with clerks only having to scan a QR code on a smartphone to confirm proper delivery of packages ordered online.
Currently, when a person shows a physical ID to a store worker, the information on the card is disclosed, including parents’ names and addresses, Lin said.
Photo: CNA
The digital ID would allow the holder to restrict access to such information, which would better protect personal privacy, he said.
The digital ID would allow people to securely store their digital credentials, such as citizen digital certificates, National Health Insurance details and driver’s licenses, meaning they would only need their mobile phone to verify their identity, simplifying ticket collections, prescription pick-ups and telecom service registrations, the ministry said.
In addition to the digital ID, the ministry would set up a mechanism to consolidate data held by local governments, which would allow better access to them, Lin said.
As a working example, doctors can access a patient’s complete medical records regardless of how many hospitals across Taiwan had the data via the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, which is operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Lin added.
The digital ministry would push for cooperation through a public-private partnership to achieve data integration, he said, adding that the move would improve innovation, leading to new products and services in the private sector.
The minister also laid out a blueprint to build an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
The digital ministry would continue to provide general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPU) to AI start-ups in Taiwan free of charge, he said.
Last year, it spent NT$65 million (US$2.12 million) to provide 40 GPUs to AI start-ups, Lin said.
His ministry plans to buy an additional 100 GPUs to help more AI start-ups develop their business, he added.
It would hold business matchmaking conferences for firms to meet potential clients in a bid to help them cut costs, he said.
It is seeking NT$10 billion from the National Development Fund to invest in AI start-ups, Lin said, adding that good investment targets are being sought.
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