An excellent idea is that of the Electronic Identity Card (CIE). Like any modern card equipped with an electronic chip, it offers us (in the promises of our rulers) a series of advantages: more security (counterfeiting should be practically impossible), more convenience (thanks to the credit card format and the much more durable plastic material than traditional cardboard) and above all a bridge towards that electronic identity which should contribute greatly to simplifying and speeding up our relations with bureaucracy. Green light, therefore, for some years now. Works? Yes. Even if at the price of some Italian bureaucratic hitch, which somewhat paradoxically also affects the "CIE". How to do? What follows is the story of a journalist who did the job well. The short story is a good tutorial for everyone.
The adventure begins
The deadline wasn't exactly close, just under 12 months, but the conditions of my identity card, almost completely destroyed, advised me to change before the actual dissolution of the identification document. So I chose to switch to the electronic card, in the hope of benefiting over time and with the mirage of the services promised on the website of the Ministry of the Interior which is the director of the Electronic Identity Card operation, aka CIE. This is the report of a journey that began in the spring and ended in the summer.
By appointment only
The first step was to register on the ministry's website in order to verify that the Cie was already available in my municipality and to book the appointment. The new card is not yet available for all municipalities. But in the capital yes. The agenda for making appointments is centralized in the AgendaCie booking system, managed by the Interior Ministry.
Having verified the qualification in Rome, I proceeded to look for the first available appointment. The booking software was also easy to use because it allows you to orientate your search by dates and/or town halls, an important fact for the capital which has fifteen districts and not all at hand.
I made the reservation in early May 2019 and found a place for June 26, in the offices of my town hall. The software also allows you to choose the time of the appointment.
On the fixed day, I went to the offices of my town hall in the Trieste district with the classic passport photo and a copy of the booking confirmation e-mail. The printed code was used to take the order number for the queue at the counter. Quite comfortable.
At the municipal offices, the times are set at fifteen minutes per practice and my shift arrives a few moments before 14,45 pm.
The first step was the payment of the 22,21 euros, 16,79 requested by the government plus secretarial fees, all settled electronically. Albeit at the price of a change, momentary over the counter. The pos for electronic payments have been spared by the administration and not all workstations had one available.
The good surprise
Back at the departure counter completing the request was all in all surprisingly smooth. The photo was easily scanned - it can also be delivered on a USB stick, once the declaration on the possible organ donation was made, it was the turn of the fingerprints. Here the mechanism jammed slightly.
It took three different scans of the two fingers to enter the database. The fault of the somewhat cumbersome program, both scans must be successful in a single pass and if the second is wrong, you must also start over with the first. The inexperience of the employee also weighed a little. A tutor who intervened in support gave decisive indications.
I left the office with the receipt for the collection in a few days, on July 4th. I have been advised that the request printout contains the second part of the 8-digit pin associated with my CIE. The first part of the number together with the other half code (PUK) comes with the identity card. It was delivered by the Minister of the Interior with a personal letter signed (when I embarked on the procedure) by Matteo Salvini. Perhaps too much concern, I thought.
My card works, it is not part of that set of failed CIEs issued between October 2018 and February 2019 which are mentioned on the web pages of the Ministry of the Interior. I did the check on the Viminale website, but it can also be attempted, for example, on the website of the Municipality of Rome.
The information contained can be accessed according to different methods and levels of protection: freely accessible data: Unique Services Number (NIS); The data accessible by scanning are: name, surname, date and place of birth, gender, citizenship, validity for expatriation, photograph, parents (in the case of minors), residential address (at the time of issue), tax code, serial number. Data accessible with PIN: the client certificate, which is used to identify the card and the reader. Data accessible only to law enforcement agencies: fingerprints contained in the CIE cip. All this should prevent, or at least considerably hinder, counterfeiting, the consequences of theft and in any case illicit use.
The future is coming
In addition to giving physical recognition, the CIE will allow all Italian citizens to have their own digital identity, a set of unique password names, opening the way to the sites of all public administrations to manage their information, make remote payments, book services. But the project developers are also thinking of private use: allowing access to low-level security electronic gates, such as access to the gym, simply by holding the card close to a reader; fast and safe crossing of high-level security gates, such as access to stadiums. Access to public transport, perhaps associated with a virtual wallet to pay for the ticket. Confirmation of presence at the workplace. Check-in at a hotel, without the need to manually memorize data and make photocopies.
The direct access system with the CIE, which has its own logo "Sign in withCie” is still being implemented. To date there are still few public administrations that allow access through the digital identity card, but also Inps and the Revenue Agency, among others, are working with the Poligrafico to open the access service to their sites using the electronic document . L'list of sites is updated continuously.
With the card, on the other hand, it is already possible to simplify the procedure for obtaining a certified digital identity through the SPID system, Public Service for Digital Identity. The SPID is a system already further in the implementation that allows theaccess to approximately 4.000 sites protected, including to national public databases.
