China has announced a new blockchain-based platform called RealDID that will be used to verify the identities of all 1.4 billion citizens in the country. The platform is being developed by the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN), China’s national blockchain initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security.
This comes after recent rule changes requiring social media influencers in China with over 500,000 followers to publicly display their real names. The stated rationale was to improve accountability and enable public oversight.
The RealDID platform will allow users to register and access websites anonymously using blockchain-based decentralized IDs (DIDs) and private keys. This is meant to keep personal information separate from business data and transactions.
BSN claims this is the first national-level real-name identity system powered by blockchain technology globally. BSN China is operated by China’s National Information Center along with Chinese technology companies, while BSN Global supposedly runs international operations independently.
The announcement has sparked privacy concerns given China’s track record. It also comes amidst rising blockchain-related tensions between China and the US government. A proposed US bill aims to ban officials from using China-made blockchains over national security risks regarding private data.
Meanwhile, China recently warned local chemical manufacturers against producing substances that enable the deadly opioid fentanyl following the US’ removal of trade sanctions against China’s Institute of Forensic Science.
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