The EU-wide framework for secure electronic identification could be improved for effectiveness to promote the benefits of trusted digital identities to European citizens. The conclusions of the EU Commission’s proposed framework from October 2020 is due to be amended in relation to Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of delivering a European Digital Identity.
With oversight from the European Parliament, Commission and Council of the European Union, the amendments should create a regulation that “sets out the harmonised conditions” for the establishment of a
framework for European Digital Identity Wallets to be provided by Member States” with the emphasis on delivering users ownership over their own data. Some members states have begun implementing and largely using electronic identification means.
To support the competitiveness of businesses and economic prosperity, the final proposed draft legislation should be sufficient to ensure both online and offline service providers can rely on digital identity solutions for verification and authentication purposes.
With Regulations met, the framework will indicate Europe’s harmonised approach and management of trust, security and interoperability around using digital identities, therefore mitigating unnecessary costs and risks incurred by current fragmentation of “divergent national solutions”.
The announcement defines the conditions of wide use of digital identities when a finalised framework is implemented. Such an approach should “strengthen the Single Market by allowing citizens, other residents as defined by national law
and businesses to identify and authenticate online and offline in a safe, trustworthy, user friendly, convenient, accessible and harmonised way, across the Union”, the announcement said.
While the framework should sponsor digitalisation across countries, refining its regulations is to ensure the use of digital identities protects transparency and users’ rights over their data.
Section 8a. defines a good framework which should “safeguard citizens against unauthorised or fraudulent use of wallets” as a highly important token for trust and critical element to wide uptake of European Digital Identity
Wallets.
“Member States should provide EDIWs relying on common standards and technical specifications to ensure seamless interoperability and to adequately increase the IT security, strengthen robustness against cyber-attacks and thus significantly reduce the potential risks of ongoing digitalisation for citizens and businesses.”
