Germany’s new electronic ID card
In November 2010 the Federal Government introduced an electronic ID card with several new functions: The electronic authentication and electronic signature helps to ensure secure identification on the Internet. Biometric features – like those of the electronic passport – are intended to protect the document against abuse by unauthorized persons. These biometric functions are accessible only to the authorities.
The identification data are stored on a chip, allowing document holders to identify themselves also on the Internet. In this way, the function of the paper document is currently available also for e-government and e-business, creating a basis of trust for electronic business transactions. Innovative security technologies are used for the new ID card, which also help to modernize public administration and strengthen domestic security.
The new ID card provides the following benefits:
- This new type of document gives citizens, the public administration and businesses a reliable, cost-effective and easy-to-use identification mechanism for online services.
- The electronic ID card ensures the secure exchange of sensitive personal data. Even in the virtual world, both online service providers and users can be sure that their communication partners really are who they say they are.
- The electronic ID card was designed with data protection in mind and creates new ways to minimize the transmission of data: Card holders are able to choose which data stored on the card to send in response to service providers’ requirements.
Besides the online authentication functionality, the new ID card offers more new functionalities than the current conventional ID card:
- Electronic signature: The new ID card includes the optional electronic signature functionality. Cardholders may choose to upload a qualified electronic signature to their ID card, facilitating the card's owner to perform legally binding actions in e-government and e-business applications.
- Secure travel document: To ensure that the new ID card continues to serve as secure travel document, the new ID card has biometric identifiers stored on the chip which satisfy requirements for official identity checks – and for this purpose only. All ID cards have a digital biometric photo stored on the chip and cardholders may choose to include two fingerprints on the chip as well. Both identifiers are an efficient way to increase security at border controls.
Technical guidelines for service providers
There are various technical guidelines and protection profiles for electronic ID documents in Germany. These refer to both the documents and the readers, from application over issuing through to reading. In order to implement the new ID card, service providers have to comply with the functional requirements created by the Federal Office for Information Security, BSI[1]. These technical guidelines are published on the website of the Federal Office for Information Security and include:
- Specifications for functional requirements and security mechanisms in electronic ID documents, that handle requirements for the technical implementation of certain processes, e. g. the process of application for an electronic ID card and security mechanisms in relation to data safety in ID cards.
- Technical guidelines for cryptography in electronic ID documents, that explain the basics for the security mechanisms.
- Technical guidelines about conformity in electronic ID documents, that have been issued in order to guarantee the interoperability between electronic ID documents and corresponding reading devices.
[1] Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik
