TWDI: EUDI Wallet Tensions, UK Establishes Digital Identity Office, G7 Aligns On Digital ID

News

Major EU Nations Push for Alternative EUDI Wallet Technical Specifications

Four major EU Member States - Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Spain - have proposed an alternative draft of the Implementing Acts for the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet. Their proposal emphasizes privacy, interoperability, and harmonized standards, potentially leading to delays in the wallet's rollout.

The move could impact the approval process, as Implementing Acts require a qualified majority. Other points of contention include the right to use pseudonyms, cross-border data erasure requests, and concerns about user tracking through mandatory identification attributes.

Read more about this development here.

UK Establishes New Digital Identity Oversight Office

The UK Government has introduced the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which establishes the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA) within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The office will oversee the Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework and issue trust marks to certified entities.

The Government estimates that the digital identity sector could boost the UK economy by ï¿¡4.3 billion over the next decade. The bill emphasizes that digital IDs will remain voluntary, with no mandatory national digital ID card requirement.

You can find the press release here.

G7 Nations Work to Align Digital Identity Standards

A new G7 mapping exercise reveals both progress and challenges in aligning digital identity systems across member nations. While countries share common ground in definitions and levels of assurance, technical standards remain fragmented, with 50 different standards in use and none overlapping across all members.

The report suggests focusing on areas where alignment is more advanced, such as definitions, while conducting further discussions on international technical standards to support future interoperability.

Read more about this development here.

Buenos Aires Pioneers Government-Backed Blockchain Digital Identity

Buenos Aires has launched QuarkID, a blockchain-based digital identity system for its 3.6 million residents. The system utilizes zero-knowledge cryptography through the ZKsync-powered Era layer 2 blockchain, allowing users to verify their identities without exposing sensitive personal data.

Integrated into the existing MiBa digital platform, the system enables residents to manage verified documents such as birth certificates and tax records. Future plans include expanding to driver's licenses and public permits, with potential adoption by other provinces in Argentina.

Read more about this development here.

ENISA Forms Working Group for EUDI Wallet Certification

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has initiated a working group to develop cybersecurity certification schemes for the EUDI Wallet. The group will focus on ensuring digital ID wallets operate securely and uniformly across EU member states.

The Ad Hoc Working Group is seeking experts in cybersecurity certification, digital wallets, electronic identification, and trust services. The initiative aims to establish comprehensive security requirements for wallet certification across the EU.

Read more about this development here.

Upcoming Events

Internet Identity Workshop

Where? Mountain View, CA, USA

When? 29-31 October 2024

The Internet Identity Workshop is a biannual unconference focused on identity issues in the digital world. Held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA since 2005, IIW brings together experts and enthusiasts to discuss, develop, and advance topics related to user-centric identity, self-sovereign identity, and identity protocols that power the modern web.

You can register for the event here.

Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit

Where? Grapevine, TX, USA

When? December 9-10, 2024

The Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit offers strategic insights for professionals looking to elevate their identity management frameworks in today’s digital-first security landscape. This conference covers a wide array of IAM topics, from identity-first security and zero-trust architecture to emerging IAM technologies and governance strategies. Designed for identity and security leaders, the summit provides expert-led sessions, practical guidance, and actionable research that organizations can use to enhance their cybersecurity posture and drive digital transformation.

You can register for the event here.

That's all for this week. We will be back in two weeks with more updates.

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