A database recording the identity data of almost 1.3 billion Chinese citizens has been established at the end of 2006 by the National Citizen Identify Information Center.

 

The vice-director of the center, a subordinate to the Public Security Ministry, Lu Subing, said a system based on the database is going to enter operation to provide identity info services.

 

With the precondition of privacy protection, the system will give a hand to prevent fraud and other crime related with fake ID cards. The system will also help maintain a safe and clean Internet, Lu said.

 

For a long time, fake ID cards have been involved in a large number of criminal cases in China. Among fraud crime cases, almost all criminals commit crime using fake ID cards.

 

So far, 960 million telephone and Internet users in China have been indexed in the system.

 

(CRI February 17, 2007)