The digital transformation has arrived at identification documents

By Julio Cosentino, President of the National Association of Digital Certification - ANCD

 
With the advancement of technology, facilities for people's daily lives are appearing at all times. Even the most resistant to the digital age end up adhering to the changes due to the benefits provided. In recent months, there has been a great movement to replace paper-based identification documents with electronics, which can be stored on smartphones and tablets, devices that are indispensable today and used by a large part of the population.
 
There are several examples, such as e-Título, an application for Android and iOS that will allow the storage of the digital version of the voter's title. According to information from the website of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the measure is beneficial to the Electoral Justice, because it will allow the reduction of costs related to lost documents, duplicate issues, printing supplies, etc. Citizens, on the other hand, will always have their electoral data available, without the risk of loss and deterioration of the paper format.
 
The Digital Work Card is another case. Since last November, workers can access their Civil Qualification and Employment Contracts information directly from their cell phone or tablet. To do this, simply download the application, according to the respective operating system of the device. The novelty does not eliminate the printed version that continues to be made available.
 
Finally, next month, in February, CNH Digital should come into effect across the country, which can also be stored on mobile devices. It is intended for drivers who already have the version of the CNH with QR Code, which started to be issued in May 2017. Anyone who fits this profile, can request it on the Denatran website, using the ICP-Brasil Digital Certificate . Who does not have a Certificate, will need to go personally to one of the posts of the DMV. In this case, it is the Certificate that will guarantee the authenticity of the online request, since it is an electronic identification document.
 
And, speaking of Digital Certificate, the version intended for the digital identification of the citizen, appeared in 2001 with the creation of the Brazilian Public Key Infrastructure - ICP-Brasil, a hierarchical chain of trust that enables the issuance of these documents. Currently, there are several types of Certificates, one of which is the e-CPF, the digital version of the document on the Individual Taxpayer Registration Card - CPF. With it, the taxpayer can perform various services in the digital environment, such as signing legally valid documents - without paper and pen, send the income tax return more easily, access the Federal Revenue e-CAC and proceed with several processes without having to attend a physical post, among others. 
 
These possibilities make it clear that the digital transformation has reached public services and that it must be expanded more and more due to the benefits provided. Enabling citizens to access essential information through mobile devices promotes convenience for them and sustainability and operational efficiency for the public sector. All sides win.