Taiwan hoping to launch digital identity wallet at year-end: Minister

Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) Taiwan will try hard to launch the "Taiwan Digital Identity Wallet (TW DIW)" by the end of year as part of efforts to strengthen the government's digital services and better protect personal information, according to new Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬).

Lin, who assumed the post as head of the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) in a Cabinet reshuffle this week, told CNA in an interview on Friday that the TW DIW, a policy unveiled by MODA last year, will allow users to disclose their identities in limited occasions initially, including at convenience stores where store clerks will only have to scan the QR codes of the digital wallets on the users' smartphones before they pick up their packages ordered online.

Currently, when a patron shows his or her physical ID to a convenience store clerk, the information on the card will be disclosed, including the parents' names or registered addresses but Lin said the digital identity will allow the ID holder to disclose selective information, if necessary, which is expected to better protect personal privacy.

According to MODA, the TW DIW will allow users to securely store their digital credentials, such as citizen digital certificates, National Health Insurance (NHI) cards, and driver's licenses, so that they will only need mobile phones to verify various credentials swiftly to simplify procedures for services such as ticket collections, prescription pick-ups, and telecom service registration.

In addition to the digital identity wallet initiative, Lin said that to improve government digital services, MODA will set up a mechanism to consolidate data currently scattered in various local governments, which will result in better access to the information.

Citing the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) initiative now provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as an example, Lin said doctors will be able to gain access to patients' medical records, which are stored in different hospitals in different cities and counties, before prescribing the right medicine to treat their illnesses.

Lin added that the ministry will push for cooperation through a public-private partnership to achieve data integration, and that this could improve innovations and lead to the debut of new products and services in the private sector.

The minister also laid out a blueprint to build an AI ecosystem in Taiwan. In the interview, he said MODA will continue to provide GPU computing (general-purpose computing on graphics processing units) to AI startups in Taiwan free of charge.

Last year, MODA spent NT$65 million (US$2.12 million) to build up computing capacities to provide 40 free GPUs to AI startups, Lin said.

Lin added that MODA is planning to buy an additional 100 GPUs to help more AI startups as the first step for them to develop their business.

He said MODA will hold business matchmaking conferences for them to meet potential clients, which is expected to help them further cut costs without the need for them to arrange their own customer visits.

MODA has sought NT$10 billion from the National Development Fund to invest in AI startups, Lin said, adding the financing plan is under review to find good investment targets