October 21, 2013, Seoul – Infineon Technologies (Korea CEO Lee Seung-soo) announced that it is supplying its security chips for the new electronic driving licenses that France began issuing from September 2013. This new polycarbonate smart card, which is successfully replacing traditional paper licenses, adopts an embedded SLE78 microprocessor with Infineon's "Integrity Guard" technology applied. This microprocessor securely stores the biometric and personal information of the license holder, protecting this information and thereby reducing counterfeiting. Additionally, the security authentication of the electronic driving license enables police to enhance safety on the road. In France, it is estimated that counterfeit driving licenses, reaching as high as 10 percent, are circulating as a serious problem. (Source: « L'usurpation d'Identité » Guy de Felcourt, CNRS éditions – July 2011)

By 2033, standardized credit card-format driving licenses will become mandatory in the European region. Currently, 110 different versions, formats, and security levels are in use. France, being one of the most populous countries in Europe (approximately 65 million people), is leading the way in issuing electronic driving licenses and residence permits that comply with the latest EU regulations. The electronic driving license also serves as an identification document and must be renewed every 15 years. The electronic driving license is produced by Imprimerie Nationale, France's national printing office.

Along with electronic passports, ID cards, and electronic residence permits, the electronic driving license represents another example of introducing a common electronic identity document within the European Union. This initiative is being promoted under the Digital Agenda of the European Commission.

Integrity Guard Technology

Security chips with "Integrity Guard" technology, a digital security technology, enable the highest current level of protection against data tampering. Personal information of identity document holders is not only stored in encrypted format on the security chip, but processing is also performed in an encrypted manner. Furthermore, the SLE 78 security controller, with its 16-bit architecture, provides superior computing performance, enabling faster processing when citizens cross borders. More detailed information on this technology is available at http://www.infineon.com/integrityGuard.

Security Technology for a Connected World

Through its core competencies in security, contactless communication, and integrated microcontroller solutions, Infineon provides a comprehensive semiconductor security product portfolio for various chip cards and security applications. Through this specialized expertise, Infineon is enhancing security in an increasingly connected world for applications such as mobile payment, system security, and secure certified electronic documents. Infineon has been developing innovative solutions in chip-based security technology for the past 25 years and has been leading the global market for the past 15 years.