Future versions of the Android mobile operating system will support electronic IDs, as Google said at the developer conference Google I/O 2019.
“Μετά από το Android Q, επιδιώκουμε να προσθέσουμε υποστήριξη ηλεκτρονικών ID για κινητές εφαρμογές, ώστε το τηλέφωνό σας να μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί ως αναγνωριστικό μέσο, όπως η άδεια οδήγησης”, ανέφερε ο Rene Mayrhofer και η Xiaowen Xin από την ομάδα Android Security & Privacy σε μια παρουσίαση που είχε σαν τίτλο Security on Android: What's Next.
The company did not provide any additional information on whether it is developing an operat-identity, but she simply stated that it is a future goal of hers. But what is known for sure is that we are not expected to see electronic IDs in the upcoming Android Q.
Setting a timetable for such a feature would be very difficult, as electronic identifiers require high encryption, which, in turn, requires premium and secure hardware.
“Apps like these have many security requirements and include a client application on the owner's mobile phone, a reader/verifier device, and systems for issuing certificates that will be used to version, updating and revoking a license," Mayrhofer and Xin said.
"We will provide APIs and some HALs reporting application for Android devices to ensure that the platform offers the building blocks that use similar security applications for the protection of personal data."
Google has said that it is awaiting official "ISO standardization" before proceeding with the new project.
Apple iOS does not currently support an electronic identity system.
But China seems to be is already making efforts for this feature. The Beijing government is working with Alibaba and Tencent to test two different digital identity systems in different cities across the country - through the AliPay and WeChat applications.
The two apps will allow users to connect their real ones identities with their apps, on their smartphones and make purchases that would normally require various legal documents, such as an ID or a driver's license.
So if Google finally manages to get approval for its addition operation on Android it will become very easy for many application developers to support a similar "electronic identity" system within their applications, using Google's APIs.
Naturally, the development of an electronic identity feature by Google's engineers will be more focused on creating cryptographic algorithms that will prevent the creation of fake identities.
