The EU Digital Identity Wallet, a significant innovation in the realm of digital identity, is now making its way to the forefront of technology.
On February 28th, the European Parliament granted its final approval to the Digital Identity Regulation. Legislation received overwhelming support with a vote of 335 to 190, with 31 abstentions. The EU Council of Ministers adopted the regulation on March 26th.
The EU Digital Identity Wallets will build on national systems that already exist in some Member States. The new regulation establishes that digital identities will continue to be provided by Member States. The European Digital Identity Wallet builds on this basis, expanding the functionalities and usability of national eIDs and ensuring mutual recognition of national wallets by the other member states.
Introduction of the EU Digital Identity Wallet
The regulation heralds the introduction of the EU Digital Identity Wallet. This tool will empower citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online for a variety of public and private services. Additionally, it will facilitate the storage and sharing of digital documents. Users of the wallet will also have the ability to create free digital signatures.
Equally important, the EU Digital Identity Wallet will be available for use on a voluntary basis. Importantly, no individual can face discrimination for choosing not to use the wallet. The wallet’s open-source nature aims to promote transparency, foster innovation, and enhance security.
Release of Open-Source Code and ARF Version 1.3
The open-source code of the EU Digital Identity Wallet, along with the latest version of the Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF), is now accessible on Github.
Version 1.3 of the ARF is currently available to the public for feedback before its adoption by the expert group. The ARF provides an outline of how wallets distributed by Member States will operate. It also offers a high-level overview of the standards and practices necessary for building the wallet.
The specifications detailed in the ARF serve as the basis for constructing the open-source code of the wallet, also known as the reference implementation. Further, it features a modular architecture composed of a set of business-agnostic, reusable components. These components are designed to evolve in incremental steps and can be reused across multiple projects.
Whether you’re a developer or simply interested in the project, you’re invited to explore the open-source code, consult the ARF, and contribute your feedback on Github.
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