The Secretary of Digital Government, Rogério Mascarenhas, emphasized the importance of the evolution of Brazil’s identification system through the new National Identity Card (CIN) for public policies during the Digital Citizenship Congress held in Brasília (DF) on Tuesday (September 17). The event is supported by the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services and is organized by the Brazilian Association of Digital Identification Technology Companies (Abrid).
“It is fundamental for Brazil’s development that the government addresses this identity issue. Our goal is to have the majority of Brazilians with the CIN by the end of the government,” said Mascarenhas. To date, around 13 million CINs have been issued in 25 states and the Federal District (DF).
One of the main innovations of the CIN is its national standard and unique number, which is the CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas, the Brazilian individual taxpayer registry). This way, the new card reduces fraud and improves administrative records, allowing for better planning of public policies. Additionally, the CIN will track citizens’ entire life cycle, from birth to death.
“This is an initiative that improves the quality of citizens’ rights, the public services delivered to people, and also the business environment for companies. Because in a country with 27 different identity card numbers, it is very difficult to implement an efficient public policy,” he added.
According to the Secretary, the CIN will be the foundation of a social platform for public services. In the future, public services or social benefits in areas such as social security, labor, assistance, health, and education may be granted automatically.
To illustrate, Mascarenhas cited the process for granting a benefit from the birth of a child, which could be automated. “This is because the administration already knows that the person is entitled to a benefit,” he planned.
Economic Impact
In his presentation, Mascarenhas also cited two studies demonstrating the importance of the CIN for the economic sector. The first, conducted by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in 2022, shows that Brazil wasted at least R$ 104 billion in 2021 by using analog identification processes. The second, conducted by McKinsey in 2019, states that Brazil could boost 13% of its GDP by 2030 if it adopts a digital identity.
National Public Security Fund
Still during the event, the Secretary of Digital Rights from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Lilian Manoela Monteiro Cintra de Melo, emphasized the Ministry’s role in the effectiveness of the CIN in dialogue with state governments.
A recent ordinance from the ministry linked 15% of the funds transferred from the National Public Security Fund to the expansion of the CIN. “Something that always touches me is thinking that identity is a fundamental human right. We are all here seeking to ensure this right that all citizens have,” she stated.
The Digital Citizenship Congress continues until this Wednesday with various panels to discuss digital identity, electronic signatures, Public Digital Infrastructure, and National Data Infrastructure.
