The European Union digital identity wallet does not determine whether or not people can participate in society

By: Iryna Hnatiuk
June 20 2024

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The EU digital identity wallet does not determine whether or not people can participate in society

Context

The European Union's new digital identity wallet, designed to streamline personal information storage and sharing, has led to concerns being expressed on social media. One post (archived here) claims that "if digital ID and CBDCs are allowed to take root, unelected technocrats will be able to impose any arbitrary conditions they wish, to determine whether or not people are able to participate in society."

In fact

The idea behind a digital ID is to facilitate the lives of individuals and businesses, not limit people's freedoms or define whether they can be an element of society.

In June 2021, the European Commission proposed to give every EU citizen a set of strong digital identity credentials that will be recognized anywhere in the zone. These credentials will be accessible from digital wallets and available to anyone from their mobile device. The wallet will contain all the documents in an electronic format — an ID card, driver's license, diplomas, bank and membership cards, prescriptions for medication, and others. Signing documents electronically, accessing bank accounts, making payments, applying for loans, filing tax returns, enrolling in university, and more will be possible with the digital wallet.

The European Digital Identity will be available to EU citizens, residents, and businesses who want to identify themselves or confirm certain personal information. It can be used for online and offline public and private services across the EU. 

The proposal was based on an existing EU regulation — eIDAS (electronic identification, authentication, and trust services) — established in 2014.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 30, 2024, and entered into force on May 20, 2024. According to the Regulation, EU Member States must provide EU Digital Identity Wallets to citizens up to 24 months after the adoption of Implementing Acts outlining technical specifications and certification. 

With a digital ID, citizens should be able to travel and transact freely wherever they are in the EU. The European Commission also says digital identity wallets should complement existing national systems. 

One of the foundations of the European Union is the single market, and a key reason for a country to join the EU is to be part of a bloc that can trade together with minimal barriers. A key aim of a single EU wallet is to give EU-based businesses a strong and secure tool for authentication. According to research from the McKinsey Global Institute, countries implementing a successful digital ID could unlock value equivalent to 3 to 13 percent of GDP by 2030.

The European Commission, in a Facebook post, presents eID as "an app that makes it easy to get, store, sign, seal and share digital documents." 
(Source: European Commission on Facebook/screenshot)

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: "Every time an app or website asks us to create a new digital identity or to log on via a big platform easily, we have no idea what happens to our data. That is why the Commission will propose a secure European e-identity. One that we trust and that any citizen can use anywhere in Europe to do anything from paying your taxes to renting a bicycle. A technology where we can control ourselves what data is used and how."

The European Commission gives real-life examples of how eID will work. (Source: The European Commission, screenshot, modified by Lofically Facts)

Concerns that governments develop tools to monitor and control citizens have led to various conspiracy theories about a group of influential people, such as so-called global elites or the Illuminati, attempting to carry out a sinister plan to benefit themselves at the expense of people. Among the versions is the one about the global elite intending to enslave people through digital means with the help of new technologies.

Such claims gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic when digital certificates were introduced. This conspiracy linked COVID certificates with digital identity and digital currencies, leading to the conclusion that everything was heading towards the EU, taking away citizens' money, rights, and freedom. However, the mission of the COVID certificates was to prevent the virus from spreading and protect people from infection.

The verdict 

No confirmed or official data suggests this mechanism will restrict people's freedom or will be used to control the population. Therefore, we have labeled this claim as false.