Countries are deploying advanced ID technologies so citizens can access services

by Zack Martin, Editor, AVISIAN Publications

National identity cards are a fact of life for citizens of some countries but elsewhere the credentials are the focus of ire.

Citizens of countries that don’t have national IDs fear it will lead to a police state and a loss of personal freedoms. But the countries that have had them in place don’t necessarily have those problems. More and more countries are deploying national IDs and are using smart cards and other advanced technologies. In some instances the cards are also being used to drive multiple applications.

The idea of a national ID card in the U.S. has always been a non-starter. Even though many admit the Social security number and driver licenses are de facto national IDs, when there are discussions of making changes to those documents the potential evils of national ID programs rise to the surface. Some experts say this may be changing, however, as efforts are underway to better identify U.S. citizens online and within health care environments.