Error-prone and inconvenient issues may arise with European Electronic IDs due to record matching problems.
The European Digital Identity proposal, presented by the Czech presidency of the EU Council, aims to streamline the process of online identification for citizens, residents, and businesses across the European Union. At the heart of this proposal lies a choice between two methods for identity verification and linkage: unique identifiers and record matching.
The Advantages of Unique Identifiers
Unique identifiers, such as Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), offer several benefits. They allow entities to create and control multiple unique IDs scoped to different contexts, enabling privacy-preserving interactions without exposing unnecessary data or depending on a central authority. Additionally, unique identifiers can bridge centralized, federated, and decentralized systems, providing flexible integration options across different infrastructures.
However, unique identifiers also present some challenges. They require robust technical infrastructure and standards, which may pose issues for member states that lack the necessary resources or implement inconsistently. Managing multiple unique IDs or DIDs across different contexts may also burden users if user-friendly management tools are not in place.
The Advantages of Record Matching
Record matching, on the other hand, can link identities by comparing attributes (name, date of birth, etc.) when unique identifiers are unavailable or not uniformly adopted. This method may rely on existing data and algorithms without requiring the issuing or maintaining of a unique identifier system, potentially reducing initial infrastructure costs.
The Disadvantages of Record Matching
Despite its advantages, record matching also has drawbacks. It can produce false positives or negatives due to data inconsistencies, leading to identity confusion or privacy risks. Also, matching requires sharing or comparison of more personal data elements, potentially increasing privacy risks. Furthermore, record matching may not reliably support cross-border AML and eIDAS compliance compared to unique IDs.
The European Digital Identity Proposal: A Verdict
In summary, the European Digital Identity proposal favours unique identifiers like DIDs for their strong privacy, interoperability, and trust guarantees essential for cross-border digital identity use. Record matching is a fallback with limitations in accuracy and privacy. Implementation challenges remain around technical infrastructure and user experience to fully realize unique identifier benefits across the EU.
Notably, the Estonian authorities estimate that they save over 1,400 years of working time every year by allowing their citizens to identify themselves and take care of most administrative issues online. However, the Czech proposal of relying on record matching for the EU's eID instead of assigning a unique identifier to every citizen is motivated by political reasons.
This article does not provide any new information about the risks of mismatching data or the attractiveness of record matching systems to hackers. It is essential to note that the security of any digital identity system is a critical concern and should be addressed through robust technical measures and regulatory oversight.
Citizens and residents in Estonia access the nationwide e-governance system via their physical ID cards and an individual National Identification Code. The European Digital Identity proposal, if implemented successfully, could offer similar benefits to other EU member states, streamlining administrative processes, enhancing security, and promoting digital transformation.
[1] "European Digital Identity – Draft Regulation" (2023). European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/european-digital-identity-draft-regulation_en
[2] "eIDAS Regulation" (2016). European Parliament and Council. https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12020AntiMoneyLaundering/public-consultation/202002_eIDAS_Regulation_AML_consultation_EN
[3] "Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)" (2021). World Wide Web Consortium. https://www.w3.org/TR/did-core/
- The European Digital Identity proposal, governed by the Czech presidency of the EU Council, promotes unique identifiers for streamlined online identification across the European Union.
- Unique identifiers, such as Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), offer benefits like privacy-preserving interactions, bridge different systems, and strong guarantees for cross-border digital identity use.
- However, unique identifiers face challenges in terms of technical infrastructure, resource allocation, and user-friendly management tools.
- Record matching can link identities without unique identifiers, but it may produce false positives or negatives, increasing privacy risks and potentially compromising AML and eIDAS compliance.
- The Czech proposal for relying on record matching for the EU's eID instead of assigning a unique identifier to every citizen may be motivated by political reasons.
- The implementation of a successful European Digital Identity proposal could offer benefits similar to those in Estonia, such as streamlining administrative processes, enhancing security, and promoting digital transformation.
- The security of any digital identity system is crucial, requiring robust technical measures, regulatory oversight, and addressing unresolved concerns, such as data mismatching risks and the attractiveness of record matching systems to hackers.
