The Evolution of Digital Identities in Italy Examined
In the digital age, Italy's Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale (SPID) and Carta d’Identità Elettronica (CIE) have become essential tools for millions of citizens, enabling secure access to public sector services.
SPID, which operates on a username and password system, and CIE, an electronic identity card with digital authentication capabilities, have been instrumental in digitalising Italy's public services, with approximately 40 million people using them to access online services. Over the past year, around 12 million users have logged into the PagoPA payment app using either SPID or CIE, primarily for public payment purposes.
Currently, SPID and CIE play a crucial role in facilitating secure, digital interaction between citizens and public sector bodies, simplifying access to services that previously required multiple different credentials. CIE is increasingly being required for accessing online public services, so citizens without it are advised to obtain one at their local Comune (municipality).
As we look towards the future, Italy is developing the European Digital Identity Wallet, also known as the "European Wallet". This initiative aims to unify and simplify digital identity schemes across Europe, complementing or potentially integrating existing systems like SPID and CIE. The European Wallet is expected to expand the use cases of digital identity beyond national borders, enhancing trust and security for online interactions.
The European Wallet will provide citizens with the ability to prove various attributes such as professional qualifications, representation of legal entities, ISEE, driver's license, disability certification, or other attributes and certifications produced by public or private entities. The wallet is expected to be completed by 2026.
Italy's national government and the EU are oriented towards the CIE as the future Italian PID provider. Intesa, one of the service providers collaborating with the Italian government for the development of the IT Wallet, is playing a significant role in this transition. Intesa's strategy is to support innovation and digitalization of public and private services, providing technical support and development for the implementation of the system, and offering clients a simpler and safer online experience.
The IT Wallet, already in use for the first 50,000 users, will be gradually rolled out to all citizens in the coming weeks. The EUDI Wallet project, while broader in scope, involving the European Commission, has a well-defined roadmap that includes legislative and formal steps in Europe. The implementation times are longer due to these factors.
The evolution of digital identity systems in Italy represents a significant step towards a more seamless, interoperable European digital identity framework. SPID and CIE form the backbone of Italy’s current digital identity ecosystem, while the European Wallet represents the next step towards a more integrated European digital identity landscape. Companies that want to use digital identities in their services should carefully consider the opportunities offered by the IT Wallet and EUDI Wallet.
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