Digital Minister Wildberger to Develop Digital Identities and Digital Wallets - Digital Minister Wildberger advocates for a digital identity and digital wallet system.
Germany Propels Digital Identity and Wallet Initiative under Minister Wildberger
Berlin - In a bid to expedite the country's digital transformation, Minister Karsten Wildberger, head of the new Ministry of Digitalization and State Modernization, has underscored the importance of making digital services an integral part of everyday life. Mr. Wildberger envisions a digital wallet that securely stores identity documents, driver's licenses, public transport tickets, certifications, professional qualifications, power of attorney, and credit cards.
Established by the black-red federal government, the digital ministry is tasked with rapid expansion of digitalization, particularly in administration. Minister Wildberger, who previously enjoyed a higher salary in the private sector, viewed the move to politics as a significant honor.
Addressing the need for a user-friendly digital administration, Wildberger aims to modernize the state's infrastructure and expand the utilization of successful federal and state-level digital solutions nationwide. During a recent interview, he emphasized that he had not witnessed a fax machine in his ministry.
Criticism has arisen regarding the ministry's proposed double seat in Berlin and Bonn. However, the Bonn-Berlin Act, which regulates the maintenance of ministerial seats, remains in effect, with calls for its abolition due to associated costs.
The government is progressing with the EUDI Wallet (EU Digital Identity Wallet), a prototype of the digital wallet that incorporates crucial design decisions, such as reading ID cards via NFC and secure data storage on smartphones. This wallet supports open-source code from the European Commission and aims for broad availability on platforms like Apple's App Store and Google Play.
As the digital wallet becomes more widely adopted, it is expected to revolutionize identity verification processes and streamline many administrative tasks for German citizens.
- The EC countries will likely pay close attention to Germany's digital wallet initiative, as it aligns with the European Commission's competition policy towards digital services, aiming to foster a competitive and innovative digital market.
- As the technology behind the EUDI Wallet advances, it will undoubtedly be a subject of interest in the realm of general-news, not only for its impact on technology but also for the political implications it may have in shaping Germany's digital identity policies and competition within the EU.
