Digital ID Wallet Pilots in Europe: How They Could Change the World
Mohammad J Sear
Digital Gov. & Public Sector Consulting Leader, Middle East and Africa (MENA) at EY
Digital identity is emerging as the lynchpin of a new information society.
We are moving from an era where we were forced to accept a single static view of our identity to one where we can have multiple identities for different purposes.?
This transformation will reshape how we think about privacy and security and how we interact with each other as individuals and organisations.
The good news is that we are getting some real-world experience with these issues now.?
Several efforts around the world are showing us how digital ID wallets could work in practice and what benefits they could provide.
In this article, we'll look at how Europe is trying to do something few others have taken on as yet.
What is the European digital identity wallet (DIW)?
In February, the European Commission announced a plan to test the deployment of the DIW in at least four large-scale pilots.
However, the EU had outlined a European Digital Identity vision since 2020, when the pandemic brought to the spotlight the importance of such efforts.
The goal is to have a single EU-wide eID system that allows people to access public services and websites—such as banks or government agencies—using their mobile devices or computer.?
That's why a group of EU member states has formed the EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium (or EUDI Wallet Consortium).
The consortium is a collaboration between the private and public sectors to create an innovative solution for exchanging digital attestations of attributes and credentials.
This comes in a bid to create multiple use cases that would qualify for up to €37 million (US$41.1 million) of large-scale, multi-country pilots for eIDAS 2.0 (EU's Digital Identity Framework.)
With eIDAS, the EU has created an easy-to-use and secure system that enables people, companies and public administrations to access services and carry out transactions online in just one click.
While eIDAS 1.0 may have made some parts of life easier for people living in border areas of the EU, eIDAS 2.0 will be more user-friendly and integrated with private-sector technologies.
Harmonising the digital identity schemes of multiple nations
The European Commission is one of the few that has shown true efforts in harmonising the digital identity schemes of multiple nations.
The vision is to allow citizens to use their digital identity across Europe, which could make it easier for them to access services and ensure that their personal information is better protected.
The European Commission says its aim is to create a "digital single market" in the EU by breaking down barriers between member states.?
It wants to reduce costs for both businesses and citizens while giving them more choice over where they can access services online.
The plan is designed to coordinate the digital identity schemes of multiple nations, allowing users to access services across borders without having to create individual profiles in each country.
This would allow, for example, someone living in France who wants to open a bank account in Germany or Italy – but has no local proof of identity – to apply online using their existing digital ID.
The Commission said it would also work with member states on legislation which would set out minimum standards for digital IDs and "ensure that they are interoperable".
Moreover, it is expected that the digital IDs can be also read offline with the newer versions (with pilots being selected by the end of 2022.)
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New digital trust services will allow cached versions of mobile driver's licences to be read offline and easily checked outside the issuing jurisdiction.?
These improvements will make testing easier and extend the use of these credentials.
No more physical credentials to travel, work and live anywhere else in the bloc.
The European Commission has announced that digital IDs are on their way for EU citizens, which will enable them to do all sorts of things without having to keep a physical copy of their passport or driver's license.?
The move will have major ramifications throughout society, and it could even change how people think about and use money.?
Citizens will be able to use digital IDs as proof of their identity when they travel and live in other countries; EU residents who don't currently have an ID can get one through their home country.?
For example, soon, someone from France could live full-time in Portugal if they wanted to—something that would not be possible right now with only physical documentation.?
While already NFC can be used to scan an e-passport, it is not as secure as a physical passport and shouldn't be used as one.
New generations of digital travel credentials will be soon on the way, making it possible for citizens to travel across borders only with their phones.
Is the rest of the world following suit?
The EU-ID will be based on open standards, meaning it's expected to work across all EU countries and beyond, as well as being interoperable with other digital ID systems around the world.
However, interoperability is not only an EU problem. Other countries are also looking at ways to improve their digital ID systems.
Countries normally focus on their national identity apparatuses, whether physical or digital.?
However, as countries continue to band together in regional blocs, soon it will be necessary to have a regulated global digital ID.
Digital identity wallets will help bridge the gaps between countries, and ease interoperability.
By adopting digital identity for regional schemes, it can be made interoperable.?
Of course, all countries need to buy into the system and decide on standards and security, but using a digital ID wallet will give them flexibility.
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