Finnish Government Employees get Chip ID Cards

Chip ID cards for government employees are being adopted throughout Finnish central government. The photo ID cards contain a qualified certificate enabling identification to log into information networks, authentication of network users and their usage rights, encryption of email and other documents and provision of a binding and undisputable electronic signature, as specified in Finnish legislation. These Government Employee Certificates can also be used for access control systems, teleworking, passage control and physical identification.

During Finland's EU Presidency, Finnish EU officials can use the certificate for confidential online transactions. Police and Border Guard officers also use the card as their official ID. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has introduced Government Employee ID Cards in many Finnish embassies and diplomatic missions.

The objective of the acquisition of Government Employee ID Cards is to develop the e-government infrastructure - a requirement set by the current Government Programme. The introduction of the cards improves the capacity of ministries and their administrative sectors to implement the e-government development obligations set for them by the Government Programme while also increasing levels of information security in central government. The ID cards and certificates are produced by the Finnish Population Register Centre (PRC) and the cards are supplied by Setec.

Government Employee Certificates are part of the same Finnish certificate infrastructure as the qualified certificates - or Citizen Certificates - available to the public. A Citizen Certificate can be incorporated into a chip ID card issued by the Police, a bank card or the SIM card of a mobile phone.

Like the Government Employee Certificate, the Citizen Certificate can be used for secure identification in e-transactions, email and document encryption and as an electronic signature. As the Citizen Certificate becomes more common and government employees receive their certificates, new opportunities will open up for the development of e-government services. In addition, a uniform certificate infrastructure will make service production more economical.

At the moment a little over 22,000 Government Employee Certificates are valid in Finnish central government. Cards similar to those adopted by the public sector are also used by the private sector.

The certificates issued by the PRC are based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The PRC is currently the only so called Certificate Authority of qualified certificates in Finland that is able to issue Pan-European certificates, as specified by the Act on Electronic Signatures and the relevant EU Directive, that provide high levels of information security and contain the correct identity. Every personal certificate issued by the PRC is a qualified certificate.

The PRC certificate infrastructure is easy to use and is generally employable and applicable on different card platforms. System usability and reliability have remained at a good level. The system has been developed with a view over the long term and takes future identification needs into consideration.

The PRC also coordinates the Porvoo Group, an international cooperation network promoting e-transactions and e-ID in Europe. Established in Finland in 2002, the Group meets twice a year to review developments in different European countries. The Porvoo Group aims to promote secure e-transactions in Europe, harmonise related development work and achieve interoperability of standards.

The most recent conference of the Porvoo Group took place in May in Slovenia, with the next one scheduled for 2 and 3 November in Finland. This 10th Conference will be a special anniversary event and on the agenda will be the future of electronic identity in addition to recent developments in the field.

At present around 30 countries have representatives in the Group, with the USA and Asian countries also following the work closely.

For further information contact:

· Programme Director, Mr Pekka Jelekäinen, the Population Register Centre of Finland, Certificate Services, phone +358 9 2291 6768, mobile +358 50 596 3628, email pekka.jelekainen#vrk.fi

· Sales Manager, Mr Ari Häkli, the Population Register Centre of Finland, Certificate Services, phone +358 9 2291 6686, mobile +358 50 572 9535, email ari.hakli#vrk.fi

For further information online visit: www.fineid.fi

Contact person: Information Officer, Ms Irene Rissanen, the Population Register Centre of Finland, phone +358 9 2291 6717, email irene.rissanen#vrk.fi