Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology has announced that the national digital identity (ID) card service will be released to the private sector once the authority to protect personal information is ensured within the legal framework.
The environment ministry is in the final stages of developing a national digital ID system in the Maldives. The ID card system was first converted to a digital system in 2012 as part of the government’s efforts to build a technologically advanced and environmentally-friendly country. The eFaas application which was introduced at the time is only for online use and is being used by various government agencies to verify identities.
The government stated that the expansion of the service will alleviate the difficulties encountered in various digital devices currently used in transactions with the identity service used in the Maldives in the future. It will reduce the risk of personal information being lost and used by someone else. However, the biggest concern is the disclosure of personal information.
Speaking at a press conference on preparations for the introduction of the national digital ID card, Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology Mohamed Shareef said the ID system is in the process of being formulated, adding that it will become an environmentally friendly service when completed.
National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT) stated that the system will create a digital ID for everyone in the country and bring all the information about the individual down to a single platform. The information will be available to the individual to whom the ID belongs, as well as to the agencies that are already required to maintain public information. NCIT also attaches special importance to making it a safe and easy system for the public to use. The platform will also include information on foreigners employed in the Maldives.
The government is also making efforts to start signing documents digitally. The digital signature is expected to be established by the end of March.