Government Official Predicts Launch of Mobile Device Identification System in a Timeline of Approximately 18 Months - Government Official Announces Rollout of Mobile Identification System in 18 Months
Digital Wallet: New Smartphone ID Cards to Launch by Early 2027
Germany's Federal Minister for Digital Affairs, Karsten Wildberger (CDU), has announced that the development of a new digital identity (ID) system is on track. In his speech at the Technology Experience Convention in Heilbronn, organized by Handelsblatt and the digital division of the Schwarz Group, he expressed optimism about the progress of the digital wallet project. The launch is expected by the end of 2026, with a tentative rollout date in early 2027.
The digital ID card is intended to serve more functions than merely facilitating online identification. It will enable citizens to digitally sign documents, open bank accounts remotely, and store various relevant documents, such as driver's licenses, health cards, certificates, or vaccination cards. The voluntary use of the digital ID card is one of its key features.
According to Wildberger, the new digital ID system will encompass a broader digital wallet concept, designed to make citizens' lives easier and enhance the efficiency of administrative processes. This project is in line with an EU regulation that demands all member states to provide at least one national ID application by 2027. In European countries like Estonia, a digital ID card is already a standard practice.
The digitalization of this ID system is a significant step towards improving the digital sovereignty of the continent. Currently, 80% of digital payments in Europe are managed by companies outside the EU, resulting in the daily transfer of sensitive payment data beyond EU legal frameworks. This development raises concerns about data security and privacy, prompting the urgent creation of trustworthy alternatives.
Initiated by the traffic light government, Germany is already in the process of upgrading its digital infrastructure. As of May 1, 2025, only digital photographs will be accepted for identity documents, representing a significant stride towards digitalization.
- Karsten Wildberger, CDU, Smartphone, ID card, Digitalization, Heilbronn, EU, Handelsblatt
- As the rollout of the new digital ID card in Germany approaches, expected by early 2027, citizens may soon use their smartphones as ID cards, enhancements that include digital wallet features to simplify administrative processes and help secure digital sovereignty.
- With its new digital ID system, Germany, following the EU regulation, aims to reduce the reliance on foreign companies in managing digital payments, thereby improving data security and privacy while providing vocational training for citizens to navigate and maximize the benefits of this technology.
