The European Digital Identity (EUDI) is a secure and interoperable framework that enables EU citizens, residents, and businesses to access public and private services online using a trusted digital identity. Aligned with the EU’s digital strategy and privacy standards, the EUDI aims to provide a pan-European authentication system that reinforces security, user control, and cross-border accessibility—critical to the trustworthy integration of digital and AI services in the EU.
1. Background and Establishment
The European Digital Identity initiative is part of the EU’s broader ambition to create a trusted digital infrastructure across its Member States. First introduced in the eIDAS Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014), the framework is now being expanded through eIDAS 2.0, establishing a unified digital identity wallet that will allow individuals and businesses to prove their identity and access services securely online anywhere in the EU.
This initiative is not only about convenience—it is a response to growing demands for privacy, cybersecurity, and digital sovereignty in a world shaped by AI, data-driven decision-making, and cross-border digital transactions.
2. Purpose and Role in the EU Digital Landscape
The European Digital Identity serves several strategic goals:
- Empowers users to access services across the EU without relying on foreign or non-transparent identity solutions
- Supports interoperability between national digital ID systems
- Ensures privacy-preserving verification for both public and private sector services
- Lays the foundation for secure interaction with AI-driven platforms and government services
- Enhances inclusivity, enabling digital access for all residents, regardless of Member State
The EUDI is also vital in ensuring that automated, AI-powered services can authenticate users without compromising civil liberties or introducing surveillance risks.
3. Key Benefits and Impact
A fully deployed European Digital Identity system enables:
- Frictionless access to e-government services (e.g. tax, social security, education)
- Secure logins to banking, healthcare, and utility platforms
- Cross-border interoperability, eliminating the need for multiple credentials
- User-centric control over what personal data is shared and with whom
- Stronger protection against identity theft, fraud, or misuse
In AI governance, the EUDI ensures that any system relying on identity confirmation—such as age verification or access control—can do so lawfully and transparently.
4. Legal and Regulatory Foundations
The European Digital Identity is structured under:
- eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 – Establishes mutual recognition of electronic identification across Member States
- eIDAS 2.0 (proposed 2021) – Introduces the EU Digital Identity Wallet, expanding the scope and functionality of digital credentials
- The EU AI Act – While not directly governing digital identity, it intersects with EUDI when AI systems rely on identity verification, especially in high-risk scenarios
The EU AI Safety Alliance ensures that identity-dependent AI systems (e.g. biometric access control, educational authentication, e-health tools) comply with both the AI Act and digital identity standards.
5. Technical Components of the European Digital Identity
Core features of the EUDI include:
- A Digital Identity Wallet – Available to every EU citizen and resident, allowing secure storage of identity documents (e.g. passport, driver’s license, professional credentials)
- Verifiable credentials – Digitally signed and encrypted attestations from public or private entities
- Selective disclosure – Users can choose which data to share with services (e.g. age verification without revealing name or address)
- Integration with qualified trust service providers (QTSPs)
These features support privacy-by-design and user sovereignty—key principles also embedded in the EU AI Act.
6. Relationship with AI Systems and Compliance
AI systems that rely on personal identification or user profiling must respect both:
- Data governance and transparency requirements under the EU AI Act (Articles 10 and 13)
- Authentication and verification protocols aligned with EUDI and eIDAS
Examples include:
- AI systems used in online exams (verifying student identity)
- Healthcare AI tools requiring digital health card integration
- Biometric systems using digital ID credentials for access management
- Financial AI assistants checking against KYC/AML obligations
The EU AI Safety Alliance helps organizations integrate these systems responsibly—ensuring data minimization, lawful processing, and transparent operation.
7. Implementation and Participation
The rollout of the European Digital Identity involves:
- Member States offering at least one digital identity wallet to citizens and residents
- Private sector entities voluntarily integrating the EUDI for user onboarding, login, or identity proofing
- Collaboration with standardization bodies and EU-level agencies to ensure interoperability and security
For organizations building AI systems that touch identity, participation means:
- Ensuring that digital identity components meet eIDAS 2.0 specifications
- Aligning data handling with GDPR and the EU AI Act
- Designing systems that respect user agency and transparency
- Engaging with the EU AI Safety Alliance to assess compliance and user trust safeguards