China plans to issue electronic ID cards in order to cope with Internet fraud and safeguard citizens' personal information security.

According to the Third Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security, an online identification verification system established by the ministry has started issuing e-ID.

The e-ID can be identified by card reader or smart phone. Each citizen will be given only one e-ID in accordance with his or her real identity, and will be able to verify the information by accessing the ministry's identification verification system.

In recent years the Third Research Institute has launched a series of pilot programs for the e-ID across the country, and the head of the institute Hu Chuanping says the e-ID is now ready to be rolled out nationwide. He says 20 million e-IDs are due to be issued this year.

The e-ID will effectively verify people's identification while avoiding exposing their personal information, which is conducive to protecting people's privacy and personal information when they use online services or e-commerce platforms.