BundID

BundID is a German federal government digital identity framework established to provide a single, secure login to online services offered by federal authorities. The project, part of Germany's digital-government initiative, seeks to replace disparate sign-in solutions with a unified identity service that can be used across multiple agencies and portals.

Function and scope: BundID provides identity verification and authentication to authorize access to federal services. It supports multiple methods of authentication and is designed to enable single sign-on and consent-based data sharing, with privacy-preserving data minimization. The system is intended to connect with existing agency IT infrastructures via standard interfaces, permitting services to request identity attributes as needed rather than full personal data.

Governance and deployment: The BundID initiative is overseen by the federal government and aligns with the Onlinezugangsgesetz (OZG) and Germany's broader digitalization strategy. Roll-out has been incremental, with pilots and gradual integration into selected agencies before broader adoption.

Impact and challenges: Proponents argue BundID can improve user experience, reduce credential fragmentation, and enhance security. Critics note potential privacy concerns, the need for robust identity proofing, and the technical difficulty of integrating legacy systems across diverse agencies. Adoption depends on user awareness and ongoing privacy protections.

See also: eIDAS, Onlinezugangsgesetz (OZG), German digital government, eID.