Simplification coming.
Italy, as we know, is not exactly a splinter when it comes to technological adaptation and Digital Agenda. The progressive aging of the population does not help in this sense, and the IT infrastructure of our public systems often makes us regret that governments have moved late and badly in the technological adaptation of public administration. However, significant progress has been made in recent years, and the adoption of Public Digital Identity System – known by the acronym Spid – is one of the most successful examples. Now we are about to experience a new evolutionary phase, in which the Spid will be abandoned for something even better.
A great tool, with some limitations
Spid is a tool of fundamental importance for bringing citizens closer to public administration, and has contributed to significantly streamline many bureaucratic processes, as well as simplifying access to essential services. Thanks to it, for example, it is possible to register and consult your social security position on the INPS website, or manage your electronic invoices on the Fisconline portal, a real godsend for any self-employed worker, especially if we consider that it is a completely free operation.
The provision of the Spid, however, is not the exclusive responsibility of the State, but of some companies to authorize its release, which at their discretion can make this procedure free or for a fee. Apart from this, However, the system has limitations, and it has a fundamental problem, namely that it does not replace our paper documents: in short, Spid is just a system for the unambiguous recognition of citizens on the web, but it has no value in other situations. I cannot “show off” my Spid to the steering wheel that makes me pull over for a road check, nor can I use it to pass the gates at the airport, for example. To make up for these shortcomings, a different tool is needed, more advanced and all-encompassing than the Spid, and which is possibly recognized and accepted in all countries of the European Union. Well, that’s exactly what’s about to happen.
The digital wallet is born
Spid is about to be replaced by IT Wallet, a real digital wallet: available soon via the IO mobile application, it will be a container of all our documents, in a digitized version, and will have legal value in all EU states that adopt it. In short, we can say that it is a pan-European integrated recognition system (project named European digital identity wallet), which will allow us to collect all our documents in a single digital space, from passport to health card, from identity card to driving licence.
IT Wallet is in an advanced stage of development and will be released in stages to the entire Italian population. The first qualifications should take place as early as this July, for a limited circle of citizens, and the service will be slowly expanded until official launch scheduled for January 2025. At that point everyone will be able to request it within the IO app, using the Spid as a credential, or alternatively the electronic identity card (CIE). According to the AgendaDigitale portal, the activation of IT Wallet will be totally free for all citizens, at least limited to services relating to public administration, and the launch costs of the operation will be borne entirely by the state: we are talking about 102 million euros per month. the year from 2024 to 2026.
