Lawmaker Proposes iAMSmart Identity Verification for Food Delivery Workers
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Labour sector legislator Lee Kwong-yu has urged food delivery platforms to implement iAMSmart real-name authentication to combat illegal workers operating as couriers. Speaking on RTHK's "Millennium Programme," Lee cited evidence that legitimate platform accounts are being used to funnel orders to undocumented workers. A recent multi-party meeting brought together platform representatives and government officials to explore practical implementation of the proposed identity verification system.
Key Points
- Legislator Lee Kwong-yu reported that some foreign delivery workers failed to produce Hong Kong identity cards when requested by property management staff, showing only overseas documents
- Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 people work through food delivery platforms in Hong Kong, with 7,000 to 8,000 actively delivering orders
- Lee estimated that 80 percent of bicycle couriers are most severely affected by illegal workers competing for orders
- The platforms have already removed thousands of accounts suspected of harbouring illegal workers and employ facial recognition for identity checks
- Lee expressed doubts about facial recognition accuracy, noting that the system could be fooled with any photograph
- A meeting held recently included representatives from the Delivery Workers Association, platforms Keeta, foodpanda, and Meituan, along with Labour and Welfare Bureau Deputy Secretary Ho Kai-ming and the Digital Policy Office
- The proposed iAMSmart system features dual authentication requiring users to scan their identity cards on a mobile device
- Property management companies could verify delivery worker identity by scanning a dynamic QR code, eliminating the need to inspect physical identity documents
- Platform representatives signalled openness to trialling iAMSmart since the service is free, unlike costly facial recognition systems
Why It Matters
The proposal represents a potential shift from voluntary compliance to systemic identity verification in Hong Kong's gig economy. If implemented, the iAMSmart system would create a centralized government-backed mechanism to authenticate delivery workers, closing loopholes exploited by illegal workers while providing a cost-free solution for platforms already struggling with verification expenses.
The proposal represents a potential shift from voluntary compliance to systemic identity verification in Hong Kong's gig economy. If implemented, the iAMSmart system would create a centralized government-backed mechanism to authenticate delivery workers, closing loopholes exploited by illegal workers while providing a cost-free solution for platforms already struggling with verification expenses.