Vastuskiri

Dear Masha Borak

In response to your inquiry I’d like to respond as follows:

• * As of now ID card remains obligatory. This may change in the future, when additional electronic ID-s – like European Digital Wallet- arrive. Obligation to have an ID documents will remain anyway – there was discussion to allow choice between ID-card (containing eID functionality) and ordinary passsport. We can not as of the moment firmly state what the legal requirements will be, it is possible that the obligation of häving at least one electronic ID will go away. The main raitionale for the (possible) eliminiation of this requirement is the extent of the penetration of eID-s in the society from one side and the principle of equal treatment and inclusion of citizens from the ohter.

Respectfully,
Madis Tapupere

Hello,

My name is Masha Borak and I am a reporter for trade publication Biometric Update. We cover news on biometric technology and digital identity.

I am writing to seek clarification on several statements by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications regarding Estonia's digital IDs that were published by EER: https://news.err.ee/1609271010/id-card-to-remain-mandatory-until-european-union-digital-wallet-created

More specifically, I would like to ask your office to clarify whether thee will be an obligatory ID in Estonia.

As I understand, the electronic ID is not mandatory to use and if the government decided to make the ID card also optional, doesn't that mean that all IDs are optional and therefore people don't need to have one? Or does it mean that citizens must have one form of ID but they can choose which one?

The article also states: “Since mobile-ID solutions are also voluntary, the change would eliminate any obligation for electronic ID.” Could you please provide some more context for this?

Thank you very much for your time!

Best,

Masha Borak

[email protected]
+385957537273