Germany-based publishing house Axel Springer, insurer Allianz, car manufacturer Daimler, Deutsche Bank and Postbank have stated their intention to cooperate more closely to establish a joint, pan-industry platform for online registration, e-identity and data services. The aim is to make online registration simpler and more secure for its clients using the expertise of German technology think-tank Core and location services provider Here Technologies.
The platform will be based on a so-called master key that customers can use for registration and identification purposes across a number of industries, ensuring convenience as well as data security and protection. The platform will comply with EU data protection reforms as well as the provisions of the eIDAS regulation, which governs trust services for the electronic identification (eID) function. The platform is designed to be open and compatible with ongoing projects managed by authorities under the German government and German federal states, even at local government level, for example, for citizen portals. Additional functions may follow, for instance, digital access to public authorities (e-government). Moreover, developing digital payment services and digital financial services is also possible on the platform.
The initiators are looking to gain more partners from a number of different sectors in the short term, including aviation companies, e-commerce agents, retailers and telecommunications companies. Preliminary negotiations are already under way with several companies that have shown interest in the platform. Among others, talks with Deutsche Telekom about joining the project have commenced recently. In the coming weeks, the initiators will finalise the details of their collaboration and set a launch date for the platform, before submitting their plan to the competition authorities for regulatory approval.
