<p>BERLIN — Germany says its citizens will be able to use smartphones to store their government-issued ID cards and prove their identity online.</p>
<p>The move is part of a broader effort to haul Germany’s decidedly analogue bureaucracy into the 21st century.</p>
<p>The Interior Ministry said Wednesday that from this fall, citizens will be able to use the electronic ID stored in their smartphones together with a PIN number to prove they are who they claim to be when communicating with authorities or private businesses.</p>
<p>Germans are frequently required to present credit card-sized cards featuring their photo and personal details, such as when applying for benefits, opening bank accounts or registering a vehicle. While there are already ways of doing this online, the physical card and a card reader are currently required.</p>
<p>Separately, the ministry said the Cabinet has agreed on a bill that will make government-generated data openly available to businesses and private individuals where possible, to spur the development of new applications.</p>
