One of the most important European regulations has been adopted today after a vote passing revisions to the eIDAS 2.0 proposal.
The amendments to the framework will unify standards for European digital identity services, in particular for the EU Digital ID wallet which will condense common digital credentials into one mobile application.
Businesses and government will build services into the wallet, having been sold on its interoperable and cross-border capabilities to improve users’ experiences.
As the standard has promised from the start of negotiations, adoption will be on a purely voluntary basis for EU citizens although traction of the wallet and its credentials has rocketed as digital services fully embrace verification.
Across converging mobile apps in the wallet, data collected, stored and processed by providers will be owned by the individual themselves.
The four main wallet pilots are expanded with the inclusion of “qualified electronic signatures” for users. The Cloud Signature Consortium advocates for e-signatures being a significant opportunity for the wallet, given the need for users to sign ID and other digital documents required by many sectors e.g. banking and travel.
Rapporteur Romana Jerković commented on the standard, which will now be formally endorsed by the EU Council of Ministers to become law: “This legislation aims to empower citizens by putting them in full control of the use and sharing of their data. Digital identity has evolved from being a mere convenience to becoming a catalyst for civic involvement, social empowerment, and a means to foster inclusivity in the digital age”.
