Czechia's digital citizenship initiative moves forward

The Czech government has taken the first steps toward creating an electronic alternative to state-issued plastic ID cards that every citizen is required to carry. The Digital and Information Agency (DIA) has been authorized to create the eDoklady (eDocuments) application.

As of the start of 2024, the app will work as an electronic alternative to an ID card, Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization Ivan Bartoš tweeted. He added that without authorization for the DIA, the whole project could be delayed.

"We will be able to make eDocuments this year. The government has approved a resolution authorizing the DIA to start working on the technical solution immediately. Thanks to the government's decision, the DIA has been given enough time for development and testing. This will save money and allow us to prepare the infrastructure for its practical implementation," Bartoš said on Twitter.

Without this resolution, the actual development of the application would have had to wait until the law on electronic documents came into force, which was not expected until November.

As of January 2024, eDocuments will be a full-fledged alternative to the current ID card. It can verify identity and will also serve as a secure repository for identity data and other credentials.

Advocates say the app will offer better personal data control, as people can determine what information about them is shared when presenting an ID. For example, sometimes it may be enough to prove that the person is over the age of 18. According to the government's program statement, eDocuments are a priority in the field of digitization.

In the future, the Czech eDocuments will be connected to the European Union’s planned European Digital Identity system. This project will include additional functionalities, such as allowing users to sign with a verified electronic signature.