I'm from Greece, where I have a national identity number. In fact I've had several (maybe half a dozen?) national identity numbers. You see, the national identity number is, literally, the number on your national identity card, or in other words the serial number of the document; not the person. When the document changes, the number changes with it.
Same as with passports. Even in the Anglosphere people have passports with passport numbers. They could be used to uniquely identify the passport holder, except of course there are many passports, and therefore, many numbers, for each passport holder.
Small problem? Just update whatever database is holding the information for sanctionted persons (or, indeed, persons who should not be sanctioned)?
> You see, the national identity number is, literally, the number on your national identity card, or in other words the serial number of the document; not the person. When the document changes, the number changes with it.
In Singapore, your number is fixed, even when they give you a new document.
Same as with passports. Even in the Anglosphere people have passports with passport numbers. They could be used to uniquely identify the passport holder, except of course there are many passports, and therefore, many numbers, for each passport holder.
Small problem? Just update whatever database is holding the information for sanctionted persons (or, indeed, persons who should not be sanctioned)?
Turns out, that is not a small problem.