EU digital identity wallets are set to transform online privacy. Here is how.
*Please note that these thought leadership pieces represent the views of the contributing organisations and do not necessarily reflect techUK’s own position.
We're living in a digital world, but our privacy and security often feel like a distant afterthought when navigating online spaces.
Every time you go online you risk identity theft, unwanted profiling, and constant surveillance. It’s anxiety inducing if you give it much thought.
But what if there was a better way to prove who you are online and manage your data that reduces unwanted threats to your privacy?
In the EU, there soon will be.
Meet EU Digital Identity Wallets, a new tool that will soon be available to citizens and residents in the EU that is secure, reliable, and laser-focused on protecting you. Say goodbye to any privacy anxiety you may have.
What are EUDI Wallets?
EUDI Wallets will be a safe, reliable, and privacy-enhancing app for mobile devices. Think of it as a super-secure, single-tap replacement for your physical wallet, but for the digital age.
With your EUDI Wallet you will be able to:
Securely identify yourself to both public and private services.
Store ALL your important digital documents—from diplomas, medical prescriptions to e-tickets, and much more.
Electronically sign or seal important documents like a new employment contract.
EUDI Wallets are a European Union initiative. Every Member State will offer at least one EUDI Wallet, all built to the same common specifications and interoperable.
This means that wallets will work just the same, wherever you are in the EU.
Privacy by design: discover the range of EUDI features that keep you safe
The power of selective disclosure
Imagine you want to buy a museum ticket with a youth discount. To claim it you need to prove your age.
Traditionally you would show your driver's license or passport, revealing your full name, exact birth date, ID number, and photo. You’re revealing everything about you!
But if you use an EUDI Wallet you only need to share what is necessary thanks to the selective disclosure of attributes. It allows you to only share the specific information requested by a service provider, in this case the museum, without revealing extra information.
So with your EUDI Wallet you can prove your age without ever revealing your actual birth date. You’ll be able to gain access to a wide range of services with minimal data sharing — a real upgrade to your privacy, online and off!
A 360 overview of your data with the privacy dashboard
Where has your data gone? Your EUDI Wallet keeps you in the loop with its built-in privacy dashboard.
It offers a complete overview of every transaction you make with your EUDI Wallet:
See all the service providers you’ve interacted with;
Know the exact data you shared and what it was used for;
Directly request a service provider to stop processing your data for specific transactions with a few taps;
Worried about unlawful data requests? The wallet will draft an email to your national data protection authority for you.
Digital identification can put privacy first
EUDI Wallets will begin to become publicly available across Member States from the end of 2026. Privacy, security, and convenience will soon be available and in the palm of the hand of every citizen and resident of the EU.
The initiative is proof that digital identification can be a net positive to online privacy and security and can offer a model for countries outside the EU to follow when designing their own digital identification systems.
If you want to find out more visit the EUDI Website & to follow us on social media.
