Proving your identity in the current digital world is more complex than in the past, when all one needed was to present themselves physically with their identification documents. Today, information about a person is put in digital form to establish a digital identity, helping service providers know who their clients are online.
An electronic identification card (eID) is a government-issued personal identification document that confirms the identity and legal status of its holder both online and offline. It is seen as a digital and more versatile version of the physical identity cards used in almost all countries. It contains a set of verified and authentic attributes about a specific person that can be shared online, allowing them to prove their identity.
The eID cards meet all KYC and Anti-Money Laundering rules in offering credible information and good levels of identity assurance to service providers. Electronic identification is also any form of a digital solution that proves the identity of people or organizations.
Uses of eID Cards
The level of a nation’s digitization determines the impact and service rendered by the electronic IDs to their users. Many countries worldwide have invested in creating national eID systems to help their citizens identify themselves on various online platforms.
An electronic identity card takes the form of a regular bank ATM card but with a photograph, some personal details, and an embedded microchip laid out on the surface. The eIDs can be used across both the public and private sectors depending on the services required by the user.
The cards contain all necessary credentials, granting access to services such as, banking, health, insurance, and other financial services to the holders. They can be used to access government services, sign digital documents, check medical records, access banking systems, file takes and for voting online, all at the comfort of your home.
Benefits of eIDs
Electronic IDs have replaced the people’s tradition of presenting themselves physically in places such as banks thus proving to be more convenient, efficient, and timesaving to users. They are secure and more reliable than normal IDs since they offer better data security with their in-built privacy features.
The eIDs are multi-purpose and can be used to access multiple services both in the real and virtual world. The cardholders can identify and authenticate themselves when using an online service without risking their privacy and personal information.
The cards replace unnecessary documents by incorporating all personal information, including social security and health insurance, in one place.