Finland’s Ministry of Finance has established a project framework for the country’s digital identity wallet. And it is already underway, with the timeline set for April 26, 2024 to an end date of December 31, 2026.
The project is meant to get Finland in line with the provisions of European Union’s eIDAS Regulation and the planned European Digital Identity Wallet. A revised eIDAS Regulation, adopted by the European Parliament and European Council this spring, will come into force in May, kicking off a six-month implementation period.
The eIDAS Regulation also has provisions concerning the EUDI wallet, mandating that member states provide their citizens with a compliant digital ID by 2026. Among other things, this will entail a mobile app and an identity matching system that will allow public services to verify the data on mobile IDs.
Finland’s Digital and Population Data Services Agency will oversee the technical implementation of the project, with the Ministry of Finance providing guidance. Government authorities in the tech-savvy Nordic nation appear to be enthusiastic about the project and how it will serve citizens.
“Digital identity wallets will make it even easier for EU citizens to use services,” said Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, the Minister of Local and Regional Government. “In Finland, all of the stakeholders are working closely together on development. The goal is to make our wallet safe and easy to use.”
The EUDI wallet was first proposed by the European Commission in June 2021 as part of a broader initiative to update the EU’s digital identity framework established under the eIDAS regulation of 2014. The aim is to create a unified and standardized digital identity that can be used by all EU citizens, residents, and businesses.
Since its announcement, the development of the wallet has involved consultations with stakeholders, pilot projects, and legislative processes to ensure the framework is robust, secure, and respects privacy. Multiple large-scale pilots are currently underway, featuring the participation of some notable identity technology vendors including IDEMIA and iProov. The full implementation of the wallet is expected to progress over several years as technology, regulations, and adoption evolve.
Source: Finnish Government
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April 30, 2024 – by Alex Perala
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