EU Discusses Possibility of Using ZK Proofs for Digital IDs

EU legislators took a step last week towards embracing privacy in the world of citizens’ digital identities. The Industry, Research and Energy Committee amended the European Digital Identity (eID) Framework on February 9 by adding the requirement for zero-knowledge proofs.

The most recent revision was approved by the committee by a vote of 55 to 8; as a result, the document will now carry on to the trilogue stage of discussions.

Although the most recent text is still not publicly accessible, the press release states that EU residents will be given complete control over personal data, with the choice of what details to reveal and to whom. 

The release reads: 

“The new eID would allow citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online (via a European digital identity wallet) without having to resort to commercial providers, as is the case today – a practice that raised trust, security and privacy concerns.” 

Circle’s senior director for EU government affairs, Jonas Fredriksen, tweeted that “the proposal would facilitate the emergence of new business models and opportunities in the digital economy, as companies develop innovative products and services that rely on zero-knowledge proofs and eID solutions.”

Connection with EU’s eIDAS Identity System

The extent of accuracy with which the zero proofs may be connected to Europe’s eIDAS electronic identity system, which has recently been the focus of investigators’ interest, was demonstrated in a joint work by the German Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe bank, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust of the University of Luxembourg, and the San Francisco-based Mina Foundation, operator of the Mina Protocol.

Regarding the ongoing war, people from all over the world have been looking for ways to help those who are being impacted by the events. The adoption of the eighth package of sanctions on Russia by the European Commission and its member states in October of last year marked a significant step towards assisting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.