Digital identity in practice

A new interdisciplinary study provides representative figures on the activation of the eID function of the German ID card and makes recommendations for the further development.

To the point

• Digital identity: In Germany, the use of electronic ID cards is not very widespread. Only 35% of the adult German-speaking population have activated the eID function, 6% are not even aware of it. 
• Conclusion: The low overall prevalence of the eID is in contrast to the political objectives of the German Federal Government.
• Recommendation: A targeted approach to population groups with a low activation rate is essential.

The electronic ID function (eID) was introduced to provide German citizens with a secure digital identity. All ID cards issued since 2010 and all electronic residence permits issued since 2011 have been eID-capable. However, the function must be activated at great time and effort. This requires a visit to the citizens’ office, although in other EU member states the eID of the ID card is either automatically active (for example in Estonia and Belgium) or directly linked to a bank account (for example in Sweden and Finland).

It is already known that Germans have hardly used the eID to date. However, this is not only due to technical and institutional hurdles, but also to a lack of use cases and occasions.

The current study now shows which population groups activate the eID – and which do not. The eID is activated significantly more frequently by men, younger people, city dwellers, people with a high school diploma, Germans with a migration background, and foreign citizens, among others. Among professionals, those with a legal background or in administrative jobs stand out. The highest activation rate is found in Berlin with 54%, followed by Hamburg with 40%.

The low overall prevalence of eID is in contrast to the political objectives of the German Federal Government. Electronic identity is a central pillar of the European eIDEAS Regulation (EU No. 910/2014). As the regulation is explicitly aimed at “seamless electronic interaction” with companies, there is a risk of a dilemma of mutual conditionality: companies that represent the majority of eID usage options in other countries have little reason to integrate eID into their services in Germany, as the activation rate is so low.

The authors therefore recommend a targeted approach to population groups with a low activation rate, such as women and older people, as well as greater involvement of the population in the further development of user-friendly digital services. Most important, however, would be the removal of barriers and obstacles to the activation of the eID.