Hotels, car rental companies, employers: all kinds of organizations ask you for a copy of your ID. A photo was quickly taken and sent. But that is unsafe, because a complete copy reveals a lot of personal data unnecessarily. You’re better off using the CopyID app. In this article we explain the right to exist and how CopyID works.
Identity theft is a major problem that is difficult to eradicate. With a clear copy of your proof of identity, a malicious person can impersonate you, with all the consequences that entails. For example, a criminal can enter Marktplaats under your name and send your data to people who are about to make an online payment and want proof that the seller is who he says he is. If the victim does not receive the purchased product, he or she will give your name to the police. After which you have to prove that you had nothing to do with it. Criminals can also use the copy of your ID to take out debt, change personal information or request a debit card – all in your name. In short: all misery that you want to stay far away from.
government app
The national government understands that too. To prevent misuse of your ID, the government released an official app two years ago that allows you to easily make a safe copy of your ID. This app is called CopyID, it is free to use and saves the edited copies only after your permission. On the website of the central government you will find a clear video about the usefulness and operation of the app: www.tiny.cc/idkopiefaq.
Install CopyID app
Time to get started with the CopyID app. You install the app from the Google Play Store (for Android devices) or the App Store (for iPhones and iPads). Good to know is that the Android version requires a smartphone or tablet with Android 7 from 2016 or newer. This is due to software security requirements. The CopyID app for Apple devices requires iOS 11.0 or later (iPhone and iPod) or iPadOS 11.0 or later (iPad). These versions were introduced in 2017. We use CopyID on a smartphone with Android 11.
Three options
After installing the app, open it and you will see the terms of use. Tap on Agree & continue. Now you will get a pop-up window to give CopyID access to your camera. Without this feature, the app will of course not work. To our Android 11 phone we choose the option While using the app. You will then be presented with the CopyID home screen, with three options. At the top you will find How does the app work? which you can tap for a brief explanation of how to safely copy your ID with CopyID. With the option take a picture photograph an ID in front of you – more on that later.
If you have saved a safe copy, you can consult it later by clicking the third option Choose previous photo to push. At the options take a picture and Choose previous photo you will see a round information button at the top right. If you tap this, you will see a detailed explanation about the usefulness of making a safe copy of your ID. This screen also clearly indicates which information you can cross out and when. We would have preferred to see all this information on the explanation screen of the first option, but that aside.
Make a safe copy
You can make a safe copy of your driver’s license, identity card or passport with the option take a picture. Take your proof of identity with you, place it on a flat surface and make sure there is sufficient (day) light. Point the camera at the document and frame the front of the document within the frames. Now press the red photo button at the bottom of the screen. You now see the photo. Is it sharp and is the document clearly visible? New? Then tap the button Undo. If the photo is good, swipe your finger over the information you want to make illegible. That takes some getting used to, but works fine. The information gets a black bar and is no longer visible.
Not sure what information you can make unreadable for the requesting party? Then press the information button at the top right and read the manual. After that, tap the back button and black out more information if necessary. Does the requesting party also want a copy of the back of your identity document? Then press the button now Back optional, take a photo and cross out the information that the requesting party does not need to see. Now choose the option Next one, visible at the bottom of the image. You can in the tab Fill in: who is the copy for? now enter the name of the requesting party.
In the tab Fill in: what is the copy needed for? indicate why the requesting party wants a copy. An example: car rental company Jansen wants a copy because you rent a car. CopyID automatically places the date and year as a watermark. Use the button at the bottom to choose the color of the watermark: white (default), black or blue. Press at the bottom Next one and indicate whether you want to save the copy (with the button Save) or share. You do the latter by pressing the button Share CopyID clicking, the app will warn you about identity theft and OK ticks. Now choose which app you want to share the copy with, for example WhatsApp or e-mail. The copy is created in PDF format.
Missing Features
While CopyID is a useful app, it’s not perfect. There have been some missing features for years that could make the app more user-friendly. For example, you have to properly visualize your identity card and the background remains visible, where some comparable apps use smart software to remove the background. That way, only your document remains; so clear.
Also absent from CopyID is the option to secure the app with, for example, a PIN code. If your smartphone or tablet is unlocked and someone opens the CopyID app, he or she will have access to any saved copies. Users are – rightly – complaining about this.
It is also a pity that the app does not recognize which type of ID you are photographing and can indicate what the data shown is used for. That would be handy, because not everyone knows which data should (not) remain visible. It would be very useful if the CopyID app could – on request – automatically make data unreadable. Wishes that have been among users for two years and to which the developer responds in the app stores with: “Thank you for your review, we will continue to develop the app.”
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