German implementation of eIDAS will require an Apple/Google account to function

As an example, an EU citizen working in Sweden should be able to submit Swedish tax forms whilst living here by using a digital identity from the originating nation.

There are also some standards in place like ETSI standardized extensions to PDF signatures so that you can verify that a signature inside the PDF was actually signed by a specific physical person (the standard is there but it's not fully used throughout the EU yet due to some legacies).

Implementation is a bit of a mess still but things are converging.

Re: German implementation of eIDAS will require an Apple/Google account to function

#5

Post by stefan_ » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 11:41 PM UTC

So what was the point of putting a crypto chip into every ID if you are gonna try and reinvent the entire trusted environment in the fucking smartphone?

Re: German implementation of eIDAS will require an Apple/Google account to function

#6

Post by jml7c5 » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 11:41 PM UTC

Is the link broken for anyone else? I'm getting ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED.

Re: German implementation of eIDAS will require an Apple/Google account to function

#7

Post by lta » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 11:42 PM UTC

That sounds like a very smart move at the time where Europe realize the US isn't such a gray partner and it's trying to reduce it's critical dependencies on foreign nations tech and infra. Good job. I'm actually very surprised to see this from the germans who have this reputation of great engineering culture

Re: German implementation of eIDAS will require an Apple/Google account to function

#8

Post by stefan_ » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 11:43 PM UTC

whizzter wrote: post #4

NooneAtAll3 wrote: post #2

what's eIDAS?

EU digital identity law to make inter-EU signatures (And authentication) work. As an example, an EU citizen working in Sweden should be able to submit Swedish tax forms whilst living here by using a digital identity from the originating nation. There are also some standards in place like ETSI standardized extensions to PDF signatures so that you can verify that a signature inside the PDF was actually signed by a spec…

The gold standard for digital signatures today is

- someone sends you a docusign link

- you sign up with your email

- you sign with your name in a cutesy font

Theres a dispute? Well it was going to end up in court no matter how you signed it anyway. This has all the hallmarks of a design by committee project by people whose salary is paid regardless of demonstrating market fit, productivity, usage, plain sensibleness...

Re: German implementation of eIDAS will require an Apple/Google account to function

#9

Post by livvy » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 11:45 PM UTC

Can anyone point me to where in the MDVN page it mentions requiring Apple and Google account? Thanks

Re: German implementation of eIDAS will require an Apple/Google account to function

#10

Post by raphman » Sat, Apr 04, 2026, 11:49 PM UTC

Mastodon thread on this topic: https://mastodon.social/@pojntfx/116345677794218793

See also this issue from 2025 where the developers responded: https://gitlab.opencode.de/bmi/eudi-wallet/wallet-developmen...

AFAICT, there is no mention of an Apple or Google account being required in general - the documentation just lists "signals" that are used to securely authenticate a person - such as Google's/Apple's security ecosystems. I am not sure what this means in practice. Can anybody with deeper understanding explain the actual implications and possible outcomes?

(Note: BMI is the German Federal Ministry for the Interior)