Amnesty concerned about electronic ID card securityLACKING SAFEGUARDS: Taiwan lacks cybersecurity mechanisms for an eID program, a critic said, while an Estonian hack saw 300,000 ID photographs stolenBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterAmnesty International Taiwan yesterday called for the establishment of a dedicated oversight body for the government’s planned electronic identification card (eID) program, citing potential privacy and security concerns. The NT$3.3 billion (US$118.45 million at the current exchange rate) eID program was initiated by the Ministry of the Interior to replace national IDs with cards containing electronic chips that store personal information. Along with calling for new cybersecurity laws and an independent regulatory body to oversee the program, Chiu and others demanded that the government allow people the choice to continue using traditional IDs. New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said the scheme must consider privacy concerns and potential human rights issues. “The current laws and regulatory bodies are insufficient for security protection and safety for use of eIDs,” he said.

Source: Taipei Times August 13, 2021 15:56 UTC