Global Digital Identity Systems: A Comparison – OpEd

As the world rapidly transits into the digital age, governments across the globe are developing sophisticated digital systems to streamline public services, enhance security, and improve citizens’ daily lives. A core component of these initiatives is the establishment of Digital Identity (e-ID) systems, which serve as the cornerstone of digital governance.

Countries such as Estonia, the UAE, Singapore, and Denmark are leading the way in adopting and integrating digital identity frameworks that offer citizens, residents, and businesses secure access to a wide range of services. Pakistan in the newest member to this club with its Digital Nation Pakistan (DNP) Act. This article provides an overview of these systems, highlighting their features, benefits, and the global trends they represent and this helps states like Pakistan which are dealing with problem of polarized digital space. 

Estonia stands as a global leader in digital governance, with its e-ID system at the forefront of the country’s digital transformation. Introduced in 2002, the Estonian e-ID has made electronic identification mandatory for all citizens, providing them with a unique personal ID code that allows seamless access to a broad spectrum of public services. These include healthcare, police records, population registers, and telecommunications, among others. The system has progressively digitized critical services such as voting, health records, residency permits, and marriage registrations, ensuring that Estonian citizens can manage their affairs efficiently and securely.

The versatility of the Estonian e-ID is one of its most significant advantages. It operates through various mediums, including the traditional ID card, Mobile-ID for smartphones, and the Smart-ID application, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Furthermore, the country’s inclusivity is reflected in the e-Residency program, launched in 2014. This initiative allows global citizens to access Estonian digital services and participate in its digital economy, regardless of their nationality or location. Estonia’s digital identity infrastructure is an excellent example of how a small country can leverage technology to create a highly efficient and secure public service ecosystem. By integrating e-ID into everyday life, Estonia has positioned itself as a model for digital governance worldwide.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also made significant strides in digital identity with the introduction of UAE PASS, a national digital identity system launched during GITEX 2018. Aligned with the UAE Centennial 2071 plan, UAE PASS enables citizens, residents, and visitors to access services provided by over 12,000 government, semi-government, and private sector entities. This initiative represents a major leap forward in the UAE’s vision for a fully digitalized society.

UAE PASS facilitates a wide range of services, including digital document signing, the verification of official documents, and access to digital copies of documents. The system is the first national digital identity in the UAE and serves as a unified solution for both service providers and users. Managed by Digital Dubai, the Regulatory Authority, and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, UAE PASS ensures secure and efficient interactions with both public and private entities. Its use is expanding rapidly, helping the UAE achieve its goal of creating a world-class digital infrastructure for the benefit of its citizens and residents.

Singapore’s digital public infrastructure has been built around the Singpass system, a comprehensive digital identity platform launched in 2003. Originally a simple username-and-password login system for accessing government websites, Singpass has evolved into a unified digital identity framework integrated with cutting-edge technologies such as biometrics and cryptography.

Singpass offers users the ability to securely verify their identity online and access more than 2,000 public and private sector services, including healthcare, banking, taxation, and transportation. Key features of Singpass include digital identity verification for both online and in-person transactions, a digital wallet for storing ID cards, driving licenses, and vaccination certificates, and data-sharing tools like MyInfo, which pre-fills forms using verified government databases.

With 97% of eligible Singaporeans using Singpass and over 350 million annual transactions, the system has become integral to the country’s public service ecosystem. Businesses in Singapore report up to 80% faster service times, thanks to the secure data access provided by Singpass. A study by Deloitte has projected that the Singpass suite of products generates an economic impact of $385 million annually, with the potential to exceed $1 billion as its adoption grows.

Denmark has also made considerable progress in establishing a robust digital identity system. In 2010, the country introduced NemID, an eID system developed through a collaboration between the government and the banking sector. NemID provided secure access to over 700 private and 180 public services, including banking, healthcare, and taxation. Although NemID was not legally mandatory, it became essential for engaging with Denmark’s digital services.

NemID employed various authentication methods, including code cards, apps, and hardware tokens, to ensure secure transactions with public and private sectors. It handled over six billion transactions and achieved a high user satisfaction rate of up to 98%. In 2023, NemID was replaced by MitID, which built upon the original infrastructure with enhanced security features, mobile-first usability, and biometric options. MitID is a more scalable and modular system designed to support both public and private sector needs, ensuring that Denmark’s digital identity infrastructure remains future-proof.

Catching up to the states like Estonia, the UAE, Singapore, and Denmark, Pakistan has embarked on its own digital transformation journey with the introduction of the Digital Nation Pakistan (DNP) Act, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s digital infrastructure. The DNP Act is designed to address systemic challenges and create a comprehensive framework for digital governance, societal empowerment, and economic revitalization. By drawing inspiration from global best practices, Pakistan seeks to establish a fully cyber-enabled society that will modernize public administration, improve public services, and foster inclusive growth. At the heart of the DNP Act is the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which aims to provide secure and efficient access to services, foster innovation, and promote data-driven decision-making. The goal is to create a digital ecosystem that empowers individuals, enhances public administration, and enables Pakistan to compete as a digital economy on the global stage.

DNP Act was the need of the hour for Pakistan. The county currently ranks 136th out of 193 countries on the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and 45th out of 52 on the World Internet Development Index, highlighting significant structural challenges in digital governance and infrastructure. These rankings underscore inefficiencies in public sector digital services and a lack of strategic foresight in embracing technology for national development. Without a cohesive digital strategy, Pakistan faces threats such as hindered economic growth, limited innovation, reduced job creation, and difficulties in addressing critical societal issues like poverty, healthcare, and education reform. The barriers to Pakistan’s digital transformation are multifaceted, including fragmented governance with over 15 regulatory bodies working in silos, low digital literacy rates, limited access to technology in rural areas, and a lack of coordinated policymaking and implementation, all of which exacerbate the country’s digital divide and inhibit broad-based participation in the digital economy.

In conclusion, the global adoption of digital identity systems highlights the transformative potential of technology in modern governance. Nations like Estonia, the UAE, Singapore, and Denmark have demonstrated how robust digital frameworks can enhance public service delivery, drive economic growth, and position countries as competitive players in the global digital economy. These systems have not only simplified administrative processes but have also fostered inclusivity, improved security, and increased citizen engagement.

For Pakistan, the Digital Nation Pakistan (DNP) Act represents a crucial step toward bridging the digital divide and addressing long-standing structural challenges in governance and public service delivery. However, the success of this initiative will depend on overcoming barriers such as fragmented governance, low digital literacy, and unequal access to technology. By learning from the successes of global leaders in digital identity, Pakistan can harness the transformative power of digital governance to unlock its economic potential, empower its citizens, and secure its place in an increasingly interconnected world. The journey ahead is challenging but vital for Pakistan’s future as a modern, inclusive, and thriving digital economy.