Poland’s digital identity revolution is transforming the way citizens access public services, but at what cost to privacy? An innovative app has gained widespread acceptance, yet concerns over data security and user control remain.
Convenient or Intrusive? How Poland Has Embraced Digital ID Cards
Over 8 million Poles already use the mObywatel app to access various public services and produce digital versions of their identification documents. The app, which has gained widespread acceptance in Poland, offers a range of features such as checking driving licence penalty points, looking up vehicle history, and monitoring local air quality.
Key Breakthroughs in Digital Identity
The Polish government’s decision to develop the mObywatel app was driven by the need for efficient digital identification systems. According to Rafał Sionkowski, a senior government official, keeping the core team of developers within public institutions allowed them to move faster and leverage existing databases. The key breakthrough will come when more EU countries develop similar apps ahead of the new eIDAS 2.0 regulation on electronic identification, authentication, and trust services.
Compliance with Privacy Principles
However, Wojciech Klicki, a privacy lawyer with the Panoptykon Foundation, stressed that such services must be designed to comply with strict “privacy-by-design, privacy-by-default” principles. He warned against features that could be seen as intrusive, such as registering someone’s location without explicit permission. To mitigate these concerns, making the apps open source and adding a feature to check which data was accessed by other government departments would give citizens greater control over their data.
Technological Opportunities
Janusz Cieszyński, a former digital minister, played down criticisms that the app could turn into a Big Brother-style tool for snooping on citizens. He emphasized the importance of never making the app mandatory and instead focusing on providing value to users. The rollout of the app has opened up new technological opportunities, such as using it for benefits, cost of living payments, or emergency allowances given to areas affected by natural disasters.
The Polish experience with the mObywatel app serves as a model for other EU countries looking to develop similar digital identity systems. By embracing technology and prioritizing user needs, Poland has created an efficient and convenient solution for its citizens.
- theguardian.com | Convenient or intrusive? How Poland has embraced digital ID cards
