When you go to the administrative service center, check in at a hotel, or buy a ticket at a station, only to find that you've forgotten your ID card... These worries of having to prove "I am me" can now be alleviated.
In the future, encountering such situations may be much calmer for you. Because the "Digital ID" has arrived!
On April 17, the digital ID certified by the First Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security's Trusted Identity Authentication Platform (CTID) — the "Online Function Certificate for Resident Identity Card" (referred to as "Online Certificate") made its debut on Alipay, officially piloted in multiple scenarios across Quzhou, Hangzhou, and Fuzhou.
What is the "Online Certificate"?
The "Online Certificate" is an electronic version of the identity card, based on the resident identity card, utilizing live facial recognition technology for trusted identity verification. It is a jointly launched online application certificate by the Ministry of Public Security and local public security agencies, generating a digital credential based on the citizen's personal identity through biometric technology after facial recognition comparison, presented within a mobile application.
Whether it is the "WeChat ID" launched in Guangzhou at the end of last year, the "Digital Certificate Package" released in Wuhan earlier, the "Electronic ID" issued in Nanning, or the recently launched Alipay's digital ID, they all belong to the category of "Online Certificate".
What is the use of the "Online Certificate"?
Based on mutual trust and recognition on the internet, the "Online Certificate" will achieve unified identity verification both online and offline, helping to solve three online challenges: "I am who I am", "I am processing tasks", and "I am still alive".
Currently, the "Online Certificate" can be used for both online and offline government services, hotel registration, logistics delivery, and many other scenarios requiring real-name verification.
Where can the digital ID be used?
Currently, the Alipay digital ID is being piloted in three common life scenarios for the public: government services, hotel check-in, and ticket purchases. The specific pilot locations are: the self-service machine at the Quzhou Administrative Service Center, the self-service ticket machine at Fuzhou North Bus Station, and a smart hotel in Hangzhou.
The "Online Certificate" used by residents in Guangzhou is divided into online and offline versions. The application scenarios for the two versions of the ID "Online Certificate" differ. The "Light Version" is suitable for scenarios that only require a simple proof of "I am me", such as real-name registration in internet cafes; the "Upgraded Version" is used for more stringent certified scenarios, such as business registration. In the future, the "Online Certificate" is expected to be gradually promoted to more regions and fields across the country.
With the "Online Certificate", will there still be a need for a physical ID card?
The "Online Certificate" cannot replace the physical ID card, but due to its characteristics of being easy to store, easy to carry, and having multiple password protections, its use is very secure and can significantly reduce the probability of losing the credential and the possibility of it being misused. Whether checking into a hotel, taking a high-speed train, flying, purchasing tickets, or opening a bank account... as the usage scenarios continue to expand, the "Online Certificate" may potentially replace copies of the ID card in the future.
What if my phone is lost? \
Is the "Online Certificate" safe? What happens if my phone is lost? Will it be misused? Regarding these concerns of users, the police and Alipay have provided answers.
The police stated that once a traditional ID card is lost, there is a risk of being misused by criminals. To address this, the "Online Certificate" has been designed with an automatic deletion function. If the user's phone is lost, they only need to log in to WeChat on any other phone, and the "Online Certificate" on the original phone will be automatically deleted. Users can also go to a trusted identity processing point to re-validate the certificate, using the second-generation ID card chip to apply for a new "Online Certificate", while the old "Online Certificate" will be automatically invalidated.
Alipay has stated that even if the phone is lost, the possibility of the "Online Certificate" being misused is extremely low. When using the "Online Certificate", the user must first verify their identity through fingerprint or facial recognition before accessing the certificate page. When opening the QR code, they must also undergo facial recognition again. Even if the phone is lost, in order for someone else to use your "Online Certificate", they would need to first access your Alipay using "phone password + Alipay login password", then conduct "fingerprint verification + facial recognition" to access the online certificate QR code, requiring a total of four verifications. Therefore, the possibility of being misused is very low.
