The IDnext event is one of the leading independent, interdisciplinary, unbiased and European conferences on digital identity, bringing together experts, innovators and key players worldwide. The event is organized by the Dutch IDnext Association in a combination of a fixed and a free conference format that provides space for peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, interaction, discussion and creativity.
The IDnext 2024 event will focus on the theme “Unlocking the Digital Self” and address the challenges of digital identity management in a connected world. The focus will be on trust, data protection, artificial intelligence, blockchain and cyber security. The program includes presentations, panels and hands-on demonstrations where international experts will talk about the protection and management of fragmented digital identities as well as new developments in the field of identity and access management.
The current status of eIDAS 2.0 and the associated European identity wallets shows great progress, but also clear challenges in implementation. eIDAS 2.0, which was adopted in 2024 and is to be fully implemented by 2026, is intended to provide EU citizens with a uniform digital identity with the introduction of so-called EUDI wallets. The wallets store important identity features, such as ID cards and driving licenses, and enable secure identification and use for digital services throughout the EU.
Some key innovations are:
- Mandatory introduction and recognition: From 2026, all EU countries should offer their citizens an EUDI wallet that functions according to uniform standards. Regulated sectors, including banks, mobility, healthcare and educational institutions, must recognize these wallets. Companies outside of these sectors can integrate the wallets voluntarily, which should accelerate acceptance.
- Implementation challenges: Despite the potential to promote digitization in Europe, there are technical and legal uncertainties. Many standards have not yet been fully defined and countries such as Germany are actively working on national implementation. The regulation requires high security and data protection standards, which in some cases necessitates complex adaptations to existing systems.
- User-friendliness and efficiency: The aim of eIDAS 2.0 is to provide a user-friendly and secure digital identity that not only reduces transaction costs, but also simplifies access to digital services, e.g. through standardized login processes and digital signatures, which can significantly improve the user experience.
Through its mandatory introduction and far-reaching security requirements, eIDAS 2.0 promises not only simplified and secure interaction in the digital space, but also a significant acceleration of digitalization in Europe.
Jörg Lenz from Namirial, together with Karin Hermansson and Koen de Jong, will take part in the event as a speaker and panelist in the session “Identity Wallets – How deep is the trough of disillusionment?” from 14:45 to 16:00. In this panel, the participants will examine the current challenges of identity wallets, a technology for secure and decentralized identity management. Despite initial enthusiasm, identity wallets struggle with issues such as lack of interoperability, ease of use and regulatory hurdles that hinder widespread adoption. This analysis highlights the hurdles and potential for future developments to show possible ways for the breakthrough of this technology.