China ponders creating a national 'cyberspace ID'

China has proposed optional cyberspace IDs tied to real identities but presented as privacy-preserving credentials to centralize authentication and limit data collection by internet service providers, with parental consent required for applicants under 14. While intended to protect personal information and streamline services, the plan raises concerns about surveillance and speech, and the report cites past national digital ID failures—such as large-scale Aadhaar and Japan’s MyNumber data leaks—as warnings about potential risks.