Singapore mulls biometrics identification system in hospitals and banks

National trials are slated in 2019.

Singapore will soon roll out a digital facial recognition system which can be used even in hospitals and banks.

The centralised biometrics identification program is part of the country’s National Digital Identity (NDI) system.

“We want to extend this biometrics system as a service,” stated Kwok Quek Sin, Senior Director of NDI at the Government Technology Agency (GovTech). He was speaking at a session during the inaugural GovTech STACK Summit. “We will start off with facial recognition,” he added.

Singapore aims to complete its national digital identity system by 2020. Trials of the facial biometric system will be conducted in the second half of the year.

“Our goal is to build a universally-trusted data ecosystem,” Kwok noted. “In the future, your identity can be provisioned in different types and forms, be it smart cards or in the future, wearables. We intend to issue NDI free for all citizens,” he added.