Raising Acceptance of Cross‑Border eID Federation by Value Alignment

A common identification and authentication space is one of the goals set in Europe’s Digital Agenda. Interoperability of electronic identities (eIDs) across Europe will facilitate mobility and cross-border e-business and therefore contribute to growth. Large Scale Pilots STORK and STORK 2.0 have designed a technical solution and are developing a model for offering cross-border eID use as service. A major challenge remains in growing acceptance for such a system by end users, service providers and national governments alike. This paper examines the different aspects influencing the long-term success of European identity federation, which enables cross-border eID use for accessing e-government and private services. A special emphasis is put on the value perspectives of the individual stakeholders and the public value assessment of the solution. Based on a literature review, it offers a framework for analysing acceptance criteria according to different stakeholder groups (governments, service providers, end users). It takes into account the trust component, the mutual influence of acceptance decisions and the importance of contextual factors influencing the actors’ choices. The discussion is based on a reflection of existing conceptual approaches in the field of technology acceptance in general and eID development in particular and draws on preliminary empirical data from the STORK 2.0 project. The paper outlines the challenges of creating a European interoperability solution, which allows a convergence with the development of national eID strategies and fits the value expectations of all stakeholders. In an organizational perspective, it touches upon requirements for creating an identity ecosystem with a network character but centralized services and decisions. In conclusion, the paper presents critical success factors for advanced collaboration between private service providers and government agencies across Europe on the subject of eID development. Thereby it assesses the current status of realization and outlines the challenges and opportunities ahead.