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European Digital Identity framework (debate)
Today, the European Parliament voted on a framework for a European Digital Identity (eID). I voted against this report. While a European Digital Identity Wallet may seem easy at first glance, it has major drawbacks and uncertainties. The online use of a European digital identity document poses major challenges to the protection of user privacy. In addition, I have great concerns about the application possibilities of the eID, especially when it comes to processing sensitive data such as that of online payments. Where does this stop, I wonder. For example, can one in the future only pay with a digital euro with the digital wallet? The European Commission has alluded to this. This would lead to mass surveillance that I am not waiting for. I am therefore absolutely not convinced that the eID is safe and ethical in practice. The Dutch citizen is not waiting for a European digital wallet, because a well-functioning DigiD system already exists in the Netherlands. As far as I am concerned, the eID is therefore undesirable.