China Starts Beta-Testing Cyberspace IDs Using Facial Recognition and Real Names

• China proposed a national cyberspace ID system that’s yet to officially take effect.
• Meanwhile, over 80 apps have signed up for beta testing, including government and private apps.
• The worryingly privacy-opposed system relies on facial recognition and users’ real names.

A "National Network Identity Authentication Pilot Version" app was launched on major app stores in China, according to state-controlled Chinese media. Eighty-one apps, including WeChat, have already signed up for beta testing of the national ID system that uses facial recognition and real names.

The available pilot versions include 10 government apps and 71 apps owned by various companies, including the National Government Service Platform, China Railway 12306, online marketplace Taobao, social media and e-comm app Xiaohongshu, Tencent's QQ, and more.

Developers can apply for their "online number" and "online certificate" after passing identity document verification, face recognition, and a mobile phone check and setting a password. Applying is allegedly voluntary, and an electronic network identity authentication certificate with a "network number" is issued after successfully registering.

The ID is intended to work as both a physical and an online credential. The two forms correspond to a citizen's real-life identity – presumably through encryption – and are intended to be authenticated and issued by a government national service platform.

Beijing proposed these "cyberspace IDs" to its citizens on July 26, but the scheme has not yet been adopted. It said the national cyberspace ID aims to eliminate the current requirement of people to provide personal details to internet service providers (ISPs) when using the internet, moving the citizen database from the ISPs into Beijing's hands.

Even though the pilot project has started, it remains open for comments until August 25.

China is already known for its plethora of censorship restrictions, also known as the Great Firewall of China. It prevents citizens and travelers from accessing many popular platforms and sites, including Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, Google, YouTube, and more. However, powerful VPNs can help with this issue. Learn more about the best VPNs to use in China.