The Public Construction Commission is handling disputes between the central bank and a subcontractor that arose after the government postponed the issuance of digital national identification cards, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said yesterday, adding that no payment has been made using taxpayers’ money.
The Executive Yuan halted the issuance of digital ID cards in January 2021 due to unresolved information security issues.
The suspension reportedly cost taxpayers more than NT$1 billion (US$32.57 million), comprising personnel costs of NT$524 million already spent by the Central Engraving and Printing Plant, a subsidiary of the central bank, and a NT$526 million penalty paid to a subcontractor for breach of contract.
Photo: CNA
However, Chen said the government did not spend NT$1 billion in taxpayers’ money to cover expenses that were already appropriated to print digital ID cards.
Chen told reporters during a visit to Chunghwa Post headquarters that digital ID cards were designed to keep up with government efforts to intensify digitization.
“The increasingly severe cyberattacks from external forces have caused people to attach greater importance to the protection of personal data. The implementation of the policy has been suspended since January 2021 after experts, lawmakers and civic groups raised personal data safety issues,” he said.
The Constitutional Court has ruled that a special agency for personal data protection be established, Chen said.
The Executive Yuan would discuss with ministries how to formulate a better and more comprehensive plan to protect personal data and issue digital ID cards, he added.
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