Projects

E-Identity

Electronic identity management in Europe

Today, e-cards have become normal. When they were introduced, however, a series of questions had to be dealt with.

More and more countries are introducing electronic systems for identification and signature functions. In developing such systems it is crucial to make them as secure as possible against external interventions. In order to appeal they must also be easy to use. To satisfy both criteria is a huge challenge.

Electronic identity management is a complex technological and social innovation. The switch to electronic communication between public authorities and citizens or businesses requires new forms of identification and authentication using a personal signature. EIdentity analysed the legal and cultural contexts together with the different scopes for technology and organisation in the development of such systems in selected countries (Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Spain).

Differences and common features

All four countries have decided to introduce eID cards for electronic identification in virtual contacts with public authorities. The following questions were examined:

  • What are the specific characteristics of the national e-ID cards and how do they differ from each other?
  • How can the different national designs of the e-ID cards be explained?
  • Which interest and conflict constellations were or are connected with the introduction of the e-ID cards?
  • Why is priority given to different policy fields in the development towards e-ID cards (e-Government/public administration, economic affairs, and national security)?

Conclusion

There are big differences in the designs of these systems when it comes to the means used, the personal features, the scope of application, privacy protection, and security provisions. This is due to differences in the relationships between the relevant actors, priority being given to specific policy fields, institutional contexts and cultural patterns.

However, there were conspicuous parallels in the low levels of acceptance and usage of e-ID systems. Above all, this is due to the high complexity of the innovation and the demands on the users – citizens and public authority employees.

Publikationen

Publikationen

  • Strauß, S. (2011). The Limits of Control – (Governmental) Identity Management from a Privacy Perspective. (S. Fischer-Hübner, Duquenoy, P., Hansen, M., Leenes, R., & Zhang, G., Eds.), Privacy and Identity Management for Life – Revised Selected Papers. Retrieved from http://www.springerlink.com/content/721041328h7271h6/
    WebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract

    The emergence of identity management indicates that the process of identification has reached a stage where analog and digital environments converge. This is also reflected in the increased efforts of governments to introduce electronic ID systems, aiming at security improvements of public services and unifying identification procedures to contribute to administrative efficiency. Though privacy is an obvious core issue, its role is rather implicit compared to security. Based on this premise, this paper discusses a control dilemma: the general aim of identity management to compensate for a loss of control over personal data to fight increasing security and privacy threats could ironically induce a further loss of control. Potential countermeasures demand user-controlled anonymity and pseudonymity as integral system components and imply further concepts which are in their early beginnings, e.g., limiting durability of personal data and transparency enhancements with regard to freedom of information to foster user control.

  • Strauß, S. (2010). The limits of control – emerging privacy challenges for (governmental) identity management. Pre-Proceedings of the 6th International PrimeLife/IFIP Summer School. Helsingborg.
    RISENWBIB
  • Betz, F. (2010). E-Partizipation und die Grenzen der Diskursethik (ITA-manu:script 10-04). doi:10.1553/ITA-ms-10-04
    DOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB
  • Strauß, S., & Aichholzer, G. (2010). National Electronic Identity Management: The Challenge of a citizen-centric Approach beyond Technical Design. International Journal On Advances In Intelligent Systems, 12-23. Retrieved from http://www.iariajournals.org/intelligent_systems/intsys_v3_n12_2010_paged.pdf
    WebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB
  • Aichholzer, G., & Strauß, S. (2010). Electronic Identity Management in e-Government 2.0: Exploring a System Innovation exemplified by Austria. Information Polity - An International Journal Of Government And Democracy In The Information Age, 139-152.
    RISENWBIB
  • Aichholzer, G., & Strauß, S. (2010). The Austrian case: multi-card concept and the relationship between citizen ID and social security cards. Identity In The Information Society, 65-85. doi:10.1007/s12394-010-0048-9
    DOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB
  • Strauß, S. (2010). Datenschutzimplikationen staatlicher Identitätsmanagement-Systeme – Fallbeispiel Österreich. Dud – Datenschutz Und Datensicherheit, 99-103.
    RISENWBIB
  • Aichholzer, G., & Strauß, S. (unter M. von F. S. ). (2009). Systemic Change of the Identification of Citizens by Government – Electronic Identity Management as a Complex Technical Innovation and its Organisational, Legal and Cultural Matching in Selected European Countries: Länderbericht für Österreich (p. 101). Wien.
    RISENWBIB
  • Aichholzer, G., & Strauß, S. (2009). The Citizen´s Role in National Electronic Identity Management. A Case-study on Austria. (O. Dini, Hoffmann, M., Klyuev, V., Noll, J., & Su, W., Eds.), The Second International Conference on Advances in Human-Oriented and Personalized Mechanisms, Technologies, and Services (CENTRIC 2009)Second International Conference on Advances in Human-Oriented and Personalized Mechanisms, Technologies, and Services - CENTRIC 2009. Porto: IEEE Computer Society.
    RISENWBIB
  • Strauß, S. (2009). E-Government - Selbstreflexion und zentrale Herausforderung. Ita-Newsletter, 11 f.Retrieved from http://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0909.pdf#11
    WebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB
  • Aichholzer, G., & Strauß, S. (2009). Understanding a complex innovation process: identity management in Austrian e-government. Proceedings of the 10th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research: Social Networks: Making Connections between Citizens, Data and Government. Digital Government Society of North America. Retrieved from http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=1556176.1556218
    WebsiteRISENWBIB
  • Aichholzer, G. (2007). Elektronisches Identitätsmanagement durch den Staat im Ländervergleich, 8-9. Retrieved from http://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL1207.pdf#8
    WebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB
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Konferenzbeiträge/Vorträge

Konferenzbeiträge/Vorträge

  • 25/11/2010 , Berlin
    Georg Aichholzer,  Stefan Strauß: 
    Staatliches Identitätsmanagement als Systeminnovation. Ein tragfähiger Ansatz zur Gestaltungs- und Folgenanalyse?
    NTA4 – 'Der Systemblick auf Innovation – Technikfolgenabschätzung in der Technikgestaltung'
    Other Lecture
  • 03/09/2010 , Trento
    Georg Aichholzer,  Stefan Strauß: 
    The transition of electronic identity management: from planned system innovation to real-world experimentation?
    EASST Biennial Conference 2010
    Other Lecture
  • 03/08/2010 , Helsingborg
    Stefan Strauß: 
    The Limits of Control — Emerging Privacy Challenges for (Governmental) Identity Management
    6th International PrimeLife/IFIP Summerschool — Privacy and Identity Management for Life
    Other Lecture
  • 22/09/2009 , Porto
    Georg Aichholzer,  Stefan Strauß: 
    The Citizen´s Role in National Electronic Identity Management. A Case-study in Austria
    (CENTRIC 2009) 2nd International Conference on Advances in Human-Oriented and Personalized Mechanisms, Technologies and Services
    Other Lecture
  • 03/09/2009 , Linz
    Georg Aichholzer,  Stefan Strauß: 
    The Austrian Case: Multi-card concept and the relationship between citizen ID and social security cards
    8th International EGOV Conference
    Other Lecture
  • 19/12/2008 , Bremen
    Georg Aichholzer,  Stefan Strauß: 
    Elektronisches Identitätsmanagement: Systemwandel der Identifizierung von BürgerInnen durch den Staat - Länderstudie Österreich
    Workshop am IFIB
    Other Lecture
  • 13/06/2008 , Bremen
    Georg Aichholzer: 
    Elektronisches Identitätsmanagement: Systemwandel der Identifizierung von BürgerInnen durch den Staat
    Workshop am IFIB
    Other Lecture
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Duration

12/2007 - 12/2008

Contact

  • George Aichholzer