cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/14967490
Starting today, apps made by state and federal governments are getting a new government badge to help users better identify official apps.
The badge will first appear on over 3,000 apps for 12 different countries.
It provides the capability to authenticate yourself online, e.g. for banking services. It would also be able to prove to a website that you are over 18, without telling the website your birthday. I have yet to use it, but from a technical standpoint it’s pretty awesome.
Edit: to clear up some confusion that may exist: as far as I know the app provides the bridge between the chip in the ID card and the application that needs the authentication. No data needs to be stored in the app.