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E-identity card: Only a few have ever identified themselves digitally

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study
Electronic ID cards remain largely unused even after 13 years

The electronic identity card has so far met with great skepticism among the German population

© Zoonar / Imago Images

The electronic ID card has been around in Germany for over a decade – but hardly anyone seems to use it. Experts see the state as responsible.

Almost 13 years after the introduction of electronic To date, only a few people have actually used the associated online function. This emerges from the study “eGovernment Monitor 2023”, which was commissioned by the D21 initiative and the Technical University of Munich under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. According to this, only 14 percent have already identified themselves digitally. This is a significant increase compared to the previous year. At that time, only one in ten (ten percent) had gained practical experience with the online ID function.

In many cases, the low usage is due to the fact that an ID card is available, but the necessary PIN is not available. Only 30 percent of German respondents said that the online function was ready for them. On the other hand, every second ID card holder is certain that the online function cannot be used, and one in five does not know the status. 7,450 people aged 16 and over with a valid federal identity card took part in the online survey, which was carried out by the consulting company Kantar. It is representative of German citizens with online access.

Energy flat rate for the electronic ID card boosted usage

The federal government currently lists 245 applications for online ID on its website www.personalidentportal.de. This includes pension information, a criminal record application, vehicle registration, the Elster tax portal, points inquiries in Flensburg, opening an account at banks or activating prepaid SIM cards. The upcoming electronic patient file will also be based on the electronic ID card. The payment of the energy allowance for students in recent months has also boosted the use of “ePerso”. With the help of their identity card, they were able to arrange a one-off payment of 200 euros from the federal government online.

However, despite the existing applications, Professor Helmut Krcmar from the Technical University of Munich sees the state as having an obligation to deliver. The ID card holders hardly use the online ID function because there are few usable and useful services for them. “And services themselves do not integrate the online ID function consistently enough. This vicious circle needs to be broken.” In many cases, it is still necessary to go to the office in person.

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E-identity cards are a communication disaster

The Green Party’s domestic politician Misbah Khan explained that the lack of trust in the digital ID card and the lack of knowledge about specific functions could be explained by a lack of application options and a communication disaster. “It is therefore important to emphasize again and again: With the online ID card we have a very good and secure electronic identity.” Finally leveraging this potential is the responsibility of Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), said the MP.