In today's increasingly interconnected world, digital identity has emerged as a critical component of our daily lives. From accessing online services to conducting financial transactions, our digital identities serve as the gatekeepers to our personal information and enablers of our digital interactions. However, the rapid evolution of digital identity technologies and the ever-growing reliance on these systems underscores the importance of sound regulation and policies.
As we prepare for the European Identity and Cloud Conference 2024, it is crucial to recognize the pivotal role that regulation and policies play in shaping a secure and trustworthy digital identity landscape. These frameworks provide the necessary guidelines for developing and implementing digital identity solutions that respect individual privacy, promote data protection, and foster innovation within the sector.
Balancing innovation, security, privacy, and user empowerment
The insights and expertise shared by the four esteemed speakers below will undoubtedly contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between regulation and policies in shaping the digital identity landscape. As we navigate the evolving digital identity landscape, it is imperative to strike a balance between innovation, security, privacy, and user empowerment. By embracing a holistic and well-regulated approach, we can ensure that digital identities serve as instruments of empowerment and trust, enabling individuals to participate fully in the digital world of the future.
Joni Brennan is a prominent figure in the digital identity field, with extensive experience in industry standards development, policy formulation, and technology evangelism. She currently serves as the President of the Digital ID & Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC), a coalition of public and private sector organizations dedicated to developing a robust and secure digital identity ecosystem for Canadians. At EIC 2024, she will share insights into public approaches to regulating digital identity, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and civil society organizations.
Dr. Rob Brand, a Senior Policy Officer at the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, is a seasoned expert in the digital identity realm. With a remarkable career spanning policy development, regulatory implementation, and technological advancements, Rob has played a pivotal role in shaping the Dutch policy framework for eIDAS Trust Services. He is also actively involved in international initiatives, representing the Dutch Government in the EWC and POTENTIAL consortia.
Dr. Moritz Heuberger holds a key position in the German government's efforts to advance digital identity initiatives. As a department head at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, he oversees the European dimension of digital identities and coordinates matters related to the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) within the interministerial GovLabDE Digital Identities unit. In addition, he serves as the technical coordinator and leads the German working group in the LSP consortium POTENTIAL, a collaboration dedicated to fostering innovation in digital identity solutions across Europe.
Vedran Lalic is the Head of the office of a Member of the European Parliament and a policy adviser in the European Parliament. Since 2021, he has served as the European Parliament’s lead technical-level negotiator on the revision of the eIDAS regulation leading to the establishment of the European digital identity framework.