Starting November 6, Brazil will adopt blockchain technology developed by Serpro for issuing identity cards across all Civil Identification Bodies (CIBs).
Managed by the Federal Revenue Agency, the data will use the latest version of the Federal Revenue Shared Register.
Starting in October, states like Rio, Paraná, and Goiás will introduce these IDs.
According to Decree No. 10,977, all government units must adopt this technology by November.
The data will be both secure and transparent. Government departments can access the financial and penalty details of citizens.
Serpro’s President, Alexandre Amorim, praises blockchain for its role in data protection and fraud prevention.
He believes it will offer a better digital experience for Brazilians. Regardless of the issuing state, these digital IDs will have a consistent national registration number.
Brazil is not alone; Buenos Aires in Argentina has also embraced this technology. ZkSync and Quark ID will offer similar services in Buenos Aires.
From October, residents can download their “QuarkID” for various formalities.
With “QuarkID,” Buenos Aires aims to boost data transparency.
The system could potentially include various personal documents and even facilitate government payments.
Background Digital IDs
Starting November 6, Brazil will adopt blockchain technology developed by Serpro for issuing identity cards across all Civil Identification Bodies (CIBs).
This initiative raises important questions about data privacy and government control.
While blockchain is secure, it potentially gives the government unprecedented access to citizens’ data.
The question of who controls this data is crucial, as it could be misused in various ways.
Similarly, the irreversible nature of blockchain means once data is logged, it’s there permanently.
Another issue to consider is the loss of anonymity. In a blockchain-based system, every transaction or interaction is traceable.
This could discourage people from taking actions they feel are private or sensitive.
Moreover, there’s the risk of concentrating too much power in the hands of governmental agencies, potentially eroding checks and balances.
Lastly, this technology could be imitated by regimes with less respect for individual freedom, setting a concerning global precedent.
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