Govt readies phone app for National Digital ID (NDID)

[buksida]

The government will start using a digital ID card through a mobile application on Jan 10 for people who use public services provided by government agencies.

The digital ID will apply to agencies under the Internal Affairs Ministry first and then expanded to other government and private agencies, such as commercial banks, deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Monday.

This policy will mainly follow Section 14 of the Digital Public Service Act, focusing on using digital ID instead of physical documents.

People wanting to use any public service are required to register using their actual ID cards with their district office's registry division to get access to D.Dopa, the mobile application developed for the Department of Provincial Administration.

To complete registration, they will be required to accept the terms and conditions, scan a QR code for a two-factor authentication setting, and fill out a Personal Data Protection Act consent form, Miss Traisuree said.

"We will open for online registration later when the system is stable," she added.

The Department of Provincial Administration had sent a notification regarding Section 14 to every provincial office and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration telling their officials cannot deny someone services when presented with an electronic ID, said Ms Traisuree.

According to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), digital ID promises to be safer than using the smart ID card, as stealing data will be more difficult.

The DES, through the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), set the first phase of the digital ID framework from 2022 to 2024 to encourage the use of digital ID cards.

At least 10 million people are expected to replace their physical ID card with the digital version this year, the DES said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... igital-ids

Seems like they're apeing China again so this is likely to be made mandatory at some stage in the future which will alienate foreigners from govt services and finances even further. It will also pave the way for mass surveillance and control over what people can and can't do (already happening in China).

[Big Boy]

A bit off topic but for my sins, I am an avid watcher of Coronation Street . One of the story lines there is that we all need to switch digital everything. I actually had a moment yesterday i.e. I'm going to have to adapt whilst the brain is still active enough to manage it, or be left behind. I know I can still adapt, but I have no idea how Mrs BB's Thai generation will handles it.

[buksida]

There are obvious advantages to the switch such as convenience, but it also grants governments a lot more control over their citizens ... which is a clear disadvantage in a dictatorship such as this one.

[Big Boy]

Yes, and I've just come from Lotus's where Somchai was stood in front of me trying to pay for his shopping electronically - 10 minutes before he managed it. Thailand has always worked because everything is labour intensive. It is not in Thailand's DNA to go electronic.

You tell me where the advantage is of watching somebody trying to pay for a packet of noodles for 10 minutes

[buksida]

I think a govt controlled digital ID is a little different from a payment app.

[Big Boy]

Yes different, but to be used by the same people, using the same hardware.

[buksida]

Printing, copying, signing, and shuffling wads of paper to achieve simple things has to end. Basic tasks take hours here because this country runs on forests of paperwork with systems designed half a century ago. Digitizing has to improve these antiquated methods but only if everyone and all computer systems are interconnected and on the same page - which of course they won't be because this is Thailand.

[Big Boy]

I don't disagree,hence my moment yesterday. I feel my brain is still active enough to handle it. However, I know Mrs BB and many Thais of her generation just won't be able to do it. Typical Thailand, somebody has a brilliant idea (and it is a good idea), but doesn't consider the practicalities of rolling the idea out to the uneducated masses.

Just registering for a Covid jab needed thousands of village volunteers to help people. Will there be a similar band of volunteers to help buy a pack of noodles?

[HHTel]

A bit off topic but for my sins, I am an avid watcher of Coronation Street . One of the story lines there is that we all need to switch digital everything. I actually had a moment yesterday i.e. I'm going to have to adapt whilst the brain is still active enough to manage it, or be left behind. I know I can still adapt, but I have no idea how Mrs BB's Thai generation will handles it.

Don't worry, BB. Roy Cropper relents and gets a smart phone but then becomes addicted to it!!

[sateeb]

/\ Ena and Minnie Caldwell will be choking on their stout in the great snug in the sky.

[handdrummer]

"We will open for online registration later when the system is stable," she added."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Suua]

Yes, and I've just come from Lotus's where Somchai was stood in front of me trying to pay for his shopping electronically - 10 minutes before he managed it. Thailand has always worked because everything is labour intensive. It is not in Thailand's DNA to go electronic.

You tell me where the advantage is of watching somebody trying to pay for a packet of noodles for 10 minutes

Sadly the Thai population have been left behind, and are disappearing fast in the rear view mirror, overwhelmingly due to the lack of a quality education.
The Junta/Hiso/and you know who, are entirely to blame.
It will take years/decades to catch up, even if a forward thinking young political party were in charge.
This is unlikely to happen, so sorry Thailand, your future looks bleak.
Some of the younger generation are more aware, but most are too timid and frightened at the prospect of calling out wrong.
A result of the evils of dictatorship.

[Big Boy]

Actually, I think it will be more a case of Thais will continue to do what Thais have always done. Ignore the authority, and continue doing what they have always done.

So while the Government will have introduced what may turn out to be a swish digital ID system (history tells us it will be far from swish), hundreds of thousands will continue to use the old system, which means any department adopting the new system, will have the double headache of running it alongside the old system.

[buksida]

Those with the new digital ID will still probably have to photocopy their card every time they want to do anything anyway. Thailand is fueled by paper ... one step forward, two steps ...

[hhinner]

^^ Copies are no longer required. Citizens contacting government services only need the actual card.

https://www.soc.go.th/?p=11966