EU ready to unveil digital wallet to access services across the bloc
Thierry Breton, Brussels's lead person for digital policy, has said the bloc is ready to unveil its new digital wallet that will grant EU citizens access to a range of private and public services across the bloc.
According to Breton, the digital wallet will give EU citizens ‘the key to their digital twin’.
The EU commissioner is set to provide details on the plans on Wednesday after member states requested safe online access to such services.
"The new digital ID will give every European the keys to their digital twin," Thierry Breton promised in a speech earlier in 2021.
Citing sources close to the matter, the Financial Times reported that the digital wallet would securely store payment details and passwords and allow citizens from all 27 countries to log into local government websites or pay utility bills using a single recognised identity.
The digital wallet would be "simple, secure and it will protect people online", said a person with direct knowledge of the plans. "People will also have the power to decide how much information they give out while Google and others don’t let you decide what you’re giving away."
Citizens of the bloc will also be able to store official documents such as a driver’s licence. The EU has also already said that it will protect the information stored from companies to ensure that it is not used for any commercial purpose.
Brussels added that use of the wallet will not be compulsory but there will be benefits for users, including an extra-secure digital ecosystem and greater flexibility across the bloc.
Developers are planning to grant access to the app via fingerprint or retina scanning.