Shanghai expands digital governance with privacy-protective QR code system

Shanghai continues to lead in urban digital transformation, leveraging its Shanghai QR Code to streamline public services while ensuring data security.

The innovative system, which integrates healthcare, transportation, tourism, and government services into a single platform, is now being adopted in a range of scenarios - from parking management to cultural activities.

Last year, Linfen Road Subdistrict in Jing'an District pioneered a smart parking system using the QR code, improving transparency and efficiency in community parking management. The "Parking via Code" model has since been replicated in nearly 700 neighborhoods across the city.

However, as such initiatives often involve collaboration between local authorities and third-party tech firms, concerns arise over how residents' personal data is protected.

With the Shanghai QR Code as the carrier, third-party partners operate under Shanghai's public data authorization framework, to develop applications - without ever accessing residents' private personal data.

"The results are processed through Shanghai Big Data Center's public data system. Residents' personal addresses and ID documents are usable but invisible, ensuring privacy protection for the residents while guaranteeing fair, impartial, and transparent verification outcomes," said Chen Lili, head of a digital tech firm, one of the participating companies.

Today, over 350,000 Shanghai residents use the QR code daily for services such as metro rides, public service, and medical appointments. In 2024 alone, 198 new application scenarios were added.

To further expand its reach, the municipality will host an innovation competition this year to crowdsource fresh ideas.

"We're committed to broadening applications of the Shanghai QR Code to better serve the public, support businesses, and advance the city's digital transformation. We will develop more innovative applications to meet public demand," said Ke Wei, senior engineer at the Shanghai Big Data Center.

Shanghai expands digital governance with privacy-protective QR code system

Ali Abdollahi, chief commander of Iran's main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, had met the country's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, presenting the leader with a report of the country's armed forces' readiness, the official news agency IRNA reported on Sunday.

During the meeting, Abdollahi said they are well-prepared to counter the "hostile actions" of the United States and Israel, the report said, without specifying the date of the session.

If the United States and Israel perpetrate any act of aggression against Iran, the Iranian armed forces will respond to them "swiftly, intensely, and powerfully," Abdollahi said.

Khamenei praised the country's "brave and powerful" armed forces and outlined new measures to continue the fight against the enemies.

Iran's Assembly of Experts in early March announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's new supreme leader. His appointment came after Ali Khamenei, his father and Iran's former supreme leader, was assassinated in a U.S.-Israeli attack in Tehran on Feb. 28 Also on Sunday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said that 'the Iranian nation will never bow down to the enemy, and if there is talk of dialogue or negotiation, it does not mean surrender or retreat," according to a statement published on his office's website.

Top military commander meets Iran's supreme leader, briefs on military readiness