Brazil is revamping its national identity card system, providing it with a new security layer based on blockchain. Last year, the country announced the launch of new carteira de identidade nacional (CIN), aka Registro Geral or RG cards.
The new identity document for Brazilian nationals will replace "old-fashioned" paper cards. Modernized plastic IDs have an integrated QR code, making it easier to identify card holders and prevent frauds. They also enable authenticating users who access public services online through a centralized database.
Last week, the government revealed that the RG system will be enhanced by blockchain technology. The network underpinning the Federal Revenue Service's shared registry, named b-Cadastros, will also support the identification system, enabling search, issuing, and changing new ID cards along with tax registration numbers.
"The use of the b-Cadastros blockchain platform is a major differentiator for the security and reliability of the National Identity Card project," said Alexandre Amorim, the president of Serpro (the Federal Data Processing Service ), Brazil's state-owned IT corporation that developed the platform. He also underscored the significance of blockchain in safeguarding personal data and curbing fraud.
The states of Rio de Janeiro, Goiás, and Paraná are spearheading the implementation of the new system, with the remaining states expected to follow suit in the coming weeks.
Neighboring Argentina is another Latin American country embracing blockchain for identification purposes. The country's capital city, Buenos Aires, has recently announced the launch of QuarkID, a blockchain-based digital identity service. The platform offers a self-sovereign digital wallet, allowing users to access birth and marriage certificates and other documents.
QuarkID, commissioned by Buenos Aires's city government, has been developed in collaboration with Extrimian, a US fintech company, and Matter Labs, a Layer-2 blockchain developer.
