Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Consistent with the global movement towards the digitization of services, the European Union (“EU”) is developing a Digital Identity Wallet for identity verification and credential authentication. Once completed, EU citizens, residents, and businesses will be able to utilize a free wallet app to obtain, store, and share important digital documents and electronically sign or seal documents. Currently, four large scale Pilot Projects across Europe are building prototypes and testing specifications.
There are many proposed uses, such as accessing government services, authorising payments, opening bank accounts, storing education certifications, collecting health information, and accessing social security benefits. To maintain privacy, the wallet app allows the user to control what data is shared and who has access to it. Further, data minimisation ensures that only necessary information is collected and shared.
The goal is to develop a universal digital identity system for citizens. The Digital Identity Regulation, which came into force in May of 2024, requires Member States to offer at least one EU Digital Identity Wallet to all citizens and residents by 2026. Although there will not be a single wallet app for use across the EU, compatibility and consistency is promoted through the Digital Single Market mission. In each Member State, EU Digital Identity Wallets will be developed with the same technical standards and offer the same user experience and functionalities. Accordingly, roughly two years from now, all Europeans will be able to voluntarily utilize a mobile app designed to safely manage personal digital documents and access public and private online services.
Author: Jenna Principe, 2024 Summer Student At-Law