The Vitale card on smartphones (e-carte Vitale) has gained CNIL approval for its widespread rollout in 2026. However, the commission has set some conditions, in particular on the use of facial recognition to install the app.
The Vitale card on smartphones is a long-standing project in France. At the end of December, a decree made it possible to promote this initiative. As a reminder, a Vitale electronic cards dematerialized must be offered to interested parties before December 31, 2025. That is, the goal is for it to be a generalized practice from 2026.
In the meantime, the project had to come under the scrutiny of the CNIL. However, the National Commission for Computing and Liberties has revealed the opinion it has given to the Government, indicates AFP -retransmitted by bfm tv.In general terms, the authority does not oppose the Vitale electronic card project, but under certain conditions, however.
Therefore, the CNIL recommends that each insured or insured who takes advantage of the Vitale card on a smartphone can “request support from your health insurance organization for the installation of the application“. The commission also says that this project must strike a balance between “the offer of an innovative digital service, which makes it possible to simplify the day-to-day life of users, and the need not to accentuate the digital divide».
Conditional green light for facial recognition
In addition, the CNIL also validates the use of facial recognition for the installation of the application in which we would find the Vitale card on a smartphone. Please note, however, that this favorable opinion is not final. The commission calls for this solution to be finalized as soon as possible and, more precisely, as soon as the France Identity digital identity application is ready for use.
The latter will be linked to the National Digital Identity Card (CNIe) which is in the process of being implemented. Once operational, this application will prove your online identity. Note in passing that this perspective seems to be split based on a small poll of our readers.
In other words, the CNIL wants people’s identity verification to access the Vitale card on a smartphone to go through a sovereign solution as soon as possible.
The promises of the Vitale card on smartphones
The Vitale card on the smartphone can be presented to your doctor instead of its classic physical version. It should also be noted that the Vitale eCard application must allow users to consult their rights, download certain supporting documents and track health reimbursements.FirstInterested parties could also use this solution to identify themselves before accessing the online platforms of their complementary mutuals.
As a reminder, the use of the Vitale eCard will remain optional. You will have the freedom to opt for the Vitale material card or a care sheet if necessary. The project is currently in the testing phase. A dedicated page on the Ameli site specifies that, by the end of the first quarter of 2023, eight health insurance funds will be affected by this progressive rollout: Alpes-Maritimes, Bas-Rhin, Loire-Atlantique, Puy-de-Dôme , Rhône, Saone-et-Loire, Sarthe, Seine-Maritime.
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