Skip to main content

Digital identities in Europe could top €1tn by 2020 says BCS

The economic value of our digital identities is growing fast and could reach 1 trillion euros in Europe by 2020, according to estimates from the Boston Consulting Group. Digital identities boost economic efficiency, help focus research and marketing efforts while spurring the creation of personalized products and services that, in turn, drive revenues. For consumers, the benefits are compelling as products and services are tailored to their needs and requirements, says the report.
October 29, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The economic value of our digital identities is growing fast and could reach 1 trillion euros in Europe by 2020, according to estimates from the Boston Consulting Group.

Digital identities boost economic efficiency, help focus research and marketing efforts while spurring the creation of personalized products and services that, in turn, drive revenues. For consumers, the benefits are compelling as products and services are tailored to their needs and requirements, says the report.

The possible uses of digital identity are broad and far-reaching. They include public services and health, mobile and financial services, retail, e-commerce, Web communities as well as identity and travel documents such as passports, drivers’ licenses or ID cards.

The main challenge facing the digital identity economy as it grows, however, is providing individuals, businesses and government organizations with secure, trusted data, according to an IFOP study into the protection of personal data.

It found that two-thirds of the value of digital identities could be lost if stakeholders fail to establish a trusted flow of personal data. However, with proper privacy controls and sufficient benefits, most consumers are open to sharing their personal data.

To ensure that the digital flow of personal information continues, organisations need to make the benefits clear to consumers. They also need to embrace responsibility, transparency, and user control, taking heed of important privacy considerations relating to the collection, use and storage of data, anonymity, pseudonymity - and the extent to which individuals have control over how their personal data is used.
 
Solid identity management practices are especially critical for governments, many of which are busy putting in place eGovernment, eHealth and eCommerce services.

Faced with such challenges, companies all over the world are rushing to provide digital identity-related technologies and services, from trusted devices suppliers to third-party service providers.

Smart card technology, in particular, is globally recognised as the most appropriate for identity applications which must meet certain critical security requirements, including: authenticating the bearer of an identity credential when used in conjunction with PINs or biometric technologies, protecting privacy, increasing the security of an identity credential and implementing identity management controls.

Related Content

  • Emovis’ 5-step guide to educating drivers on road usage charging
    October 31, 2023
    If people don’t understand the benefits of road usage charging, then it is unlikely to have public support. Scott Jacobs of Emovis outlines ways in which key messages – particularly on fairness - can be put across
  • CARTES looks at privacy in the digital society
    November 3, 2014
    US whistleblower Edward Snowden made millions of people aware of just how closely governments are scrutinising their private affairs. Nobody objects to law enforcement agencies uncovering terrorists’ funding sources, but the idea that bureaucrats can look into ordinary citizens’ financial and personal affairs makes many uncomfortable. The thought that criminals can do the same is even more alarming.
  • Driverless vehicles will cause changes in society
    May 31, 2013
    Paul Godsmark gives his views on what the advent of autonomous vehicles would mean for the wider society. Further to your article ‘Driver not required…’ in the Jan/Feb edition of ITS International which gave some great background to autonomous road vehicle (ARVs), I feel that the bigger picture is needed to aid understanding. There is a ‘technology freight train’ heading our way that is going to transform our roadways but we don’t seem to be aware of it and, therefore, are in no hurry to react.
  • Tighten up on cyber security before hackers infiltrate ITS infrastructure
    October 19, 2015
    This year’s ITS World Congress in Bordeaux will have three sessions dedicated to cyber security and the issue will also be addressed under connected and automated vehicles categories. Jon Masters finds out why. American security researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek attracted international press coverage recently when they demonstrated how they could hack into and take control of a vehicle from a remote laptop. While the implications are clearly serious for vehicle manufacturers, highway and transpor