In today’s digital world, secure electronic identification (eID) and qualified electronic signatures are no longer just nice-to-haves—they're essential. Every country has a responsibility to provide its citizens with a reliable, inclusive, and secure way to identify themselves online and sign legally binding documents.
Estonia: A Digital Society Done Right
Estonia is widely recognized as a global leader in digital identity. It has built a society where nearly every government service is accessible online, with high adoption rates of electronic ID and digital signatures. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, daily life continued with minimal disruption—thanks to a digital infrastructure that already worked flawlessly.
This post is for those who haven’t experienced life in a digitally advanced society and want to start asking important questions in their own countries—at public forums, government offices, or even polling stations.
In 2019, McKinsey published a report stating:
“Well-designed digital ID not only enables civic and social empowerment, but also makes possible real and inclusive economic gains.”
We couldn’t agree more.
21st Century Must-Haves: Add eID to the List
Just like public education, national road networks, and passports for every citizen, a well-functioning digital identity system has become a cornerstone of modern governance.
Without secure eID infrastructure, even the most high-tech societies are left cobbling together manual processes—like dragging and dropping a signature image into a PDF to finalize a million-dollar contract.
What Makes a Great eID System?
Here are the cornerstones of a robust, inclusive eID system:
✅ Universal Access
Everyone must be included. Many countries achieve this through mandatory national electronic ID cards. These are secure, chip-based cards that allow digital authentication and signing. Their only real hardware requirement? A card reader (often under €10) or an NFC-enabled phone.
✅ Alternative, Secure Methods
To make eID more accessible:
- Mobile-ID: Uses a secure SIM card to act like an ID card chip. It works on any mobile phone—no app required.
- Mobile eID apps: Installed directly on smartphones. These are often provided by private companies (banks, telcos, etc.), and if audited and certified, can be officially approved under regulations like eIDAS.
✅ Open and Clear Documentation
Even with great infrastructure, adoption fails if developers can’t easily integrate it. Public APIs for eID must be well-documented, accessible, and available in multiple languages. We've seen countries with excellent systems that go underused because integration is prohibitively complex and expensive.
That’s not just a missed opportunity—it’s a digital divide in action.
Privacy Isn't the Problem—Poor Design Is
A well-built eID system can be private, secure, and decentralized.
Contrary to common fears, governments don’t need to track every authentication. For example:
- The user inserts their ID card, enters their PIN, and a certificate is read directly in the browser.
- Service providers (like a water utility or a fintech startup) verify the certificate offline using tools like Certificate Revocation Lists (CRLs).
- The government is not notified of this interaction.
This privacy-preserving model empowers organizations like:
- Utilities (check usage history)
- Pharmacies (verify prescriptions)
- E-commerce platforms (secure logins)
- NGOs and sports clubs (member authentication)
- Schools and universities (grade access, attendance)
In older systems, people might still have to show up in person with a passport or send photos of their ID just to access basic services. That’s inefficient, time-consuming, and often insecure.
What About Anonymity?
An eID is designed to verify identity. If a service provider doesn’t need to know who you are (anonymous use), no eID is required. But when identity is essential, the user must be willing to share at least their name and a unique identifier. If not, there’s rarely any real business to conduct.
Let’s Build Digital Societies That Include Everyone
At eID Easy, we believe that digital identity should be:
- Secure
- Inclusive
- Privacy-respecting
- Easy to implement
Whether you're a policymaker, developer, or citizen, now is the time to push for well-designed, widely usable eID infrastructure in your country.
