10 July 2015

Digital identities provide the necessary foundation of a modern government and society. At the same time they allow for stronger security as access to services is focused on the right people, at the right time and location.

This EIF dinner debate, chaired by Michal Boni MEP, provided an overview of the role of digital identities, focused on on-going initiatives, highlighted opportunities and produced a call to action within the context of creating a Digital Single Market. In his opening remarks MEP Boni noted that the trusted digital identity will become a key enabler of everyday life.


Andrea Servida, Head of Task Force "Legislation Team" at DG CONNECT, European Commission, presented eIDAS – electronic identification and trust services. The goal of eIDAS is to boost trust and convenience in secure and seamless cross-border electronic transactions. Mr Servida took this opportunity to present the action plan for eIDAS to be rolled out across Europe as a tool to achieve the Digital Single Market across Europe.

Presentation on eIDAS


Afke Schaart, Vice-President Europe at GSMA, presented their initiative called Mobile Connect. Mobile Connect is a secure universal log-in solution. Simply by matching the user to their mobile phone, Mobile Connect allows them to log-in to websites and applications quickly without the need to remember passwords and usernames. It is deployed in 13 markets by 17 mobile operators and shortly will be coming to Europe.


Claudio Arciprete, Project Manager Digital Identity, Strategy & Innovation at Telecom Italia, presented Italy’s case for digital identification in the context of GSMA’s Mobile Connected and eIDAS.


David Birch, Director, Consult Hyperion, and Chair at TechUK Payments Committee, joined EIF debate via Skype. He brought the privacy issue to the discussion of digital identities. He suggested using the token system to only partly reveal one’s digital identity when it is necessary. He suggested looking into digital identity as a platform not as an online version of your ID card. 

  • #DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET

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