What is a digital identity? How does it affect organizations, consumers and individuals? And what are the safety concerns about how these identities are created and managed?
These are just a few of the questions asked around the world in 2025, but are now most prominently asked in Switzerland, where the government wants to launch a statewide E-ID (electronic identification) system.
The proposition was violently rejected by the public in 2021 when it was voted in a referendum, so the Swiss government has since revised their offerings, and is now about to launch a new, refined version in 2026.
To enjoy an hour-long discussion on this topic, we will delve into this issue with the latest opinions and opinions on digital identity by tuning it on CET’s EuroNews YouTube channel from 11am on May 22nd. We will hold live panel discussions with some of the most important voices in the industry. You can follow the above players live.
The discussion discusses, among other things, the state of digital identity, consumer protection, security, privacy, trust, and consumer digital literacy play, and how digital identity affects our daily lives.
If you have any questions from the panelists, please let us know using this Google Form.
The discussion is hosted by longtime Euroneus contributor Chris Burns and will feature PMI Vice President Agnieszynska-Szulc, Vice President of Products & ESG Policy at PMI, and Daniel Säuberli, Chief Business Officer of PXL Vision, President of Didas and Karim Nemr.
What exactly is a digital identity?
Digital identity is widely defined as a collection of data points that identifies an individual or organization within a digital space. These points include login details, social media profiles, biometric data, email address, username, and even behavioral patterns.
A digital identity determines that an individual or entity is online or definitively accessible to services. It helps protect users from fraud and cybercrime while allowing access to facilities such as online banking and healthcare.
Many European countries have already used versions of E-ID, such as Finland, Sweden and most successfully Estonia.
Estonia’s digital identity system is considered the gold standard and is equipped with a platform equipped with residents with chip ID cards, mobile-friendly login options, digital signatures, tools designed to protect privacy and ensure data integrity. Estonians use it to vote daily, access to banks, health facilities, sign contracts and run businesses.
Its success lies in part on early legal support (the law gave the validity of digital signatures), and creating a secure data exchange layer allows for centralization and high level of user transparency, allowing users to see who and why they accessed the data.
Swiss E-IDs face surveillance over cost and control
While such systems can make facilities easier for many people, some Swiss residents are concerned about online privacy and the issues of surveillance that may arise from government-run organizations.
Furthermore, although ostensibly “voluntary,” E-IDs can be the only way to access certain public services, making them essentially mandatory.
In Switzerland, this particular E-ID is expected to cost quite a bit over five years, with 180 million cases. Some people wonder if this money can be spent better.
Conversely, when executed correctly, E-IDs can make access to public services faster and easier. Also, while security may be a concern, selective disclosure (SSI) will be introduced. This means that users can choose what information they share and (to some extent) how they use it.
What is the state of digital identity today?
This is one of the questions the panelists are trying to cover in detail. What will your “digital identity” look like in 2025? How has it been evolving and how has it been changing since Covid 19? Appropriately, to what extent did AI have an impact on the concept, processes and future of digital identity, especially in the EU?
After introducing GDPR in 2018 to protect personal data, the upcoming data law to support fair sharing of impersonal data is the AI law set forth in 2026, the next major step to regulating the digital world. This is the world’s first major regulator. How are businesses and consumers affected by these developments?
How can an organization balance consumer protection, security and privacy?
A always-present topic, panelists discuss the nature of consumer security, privacy and protection. How do businesses get a balance between increasing security offerings without compromising consumer privacy?
Hope the speaker discusses the important nature of data protection and its management within the company, delving into the nature of the regulatory framework and its impact on digital identity verification practices.
How can consumers find digital tools and what can they do to improve this relationship?
Consumers’ digital literacy varies, and trust in online services often rises or falls along it. Let’s take a look at how we consume the quality of our online tools and user experience.
What impact does this have on the business level, ensure digital literacy, and as a result, what role does the government and the private sector play in equitable access?
Meet the panelists:
AgnieszkaWyszyńska-Szulc-Philip Morris International, Vice President of Products & ESG Policy, Products & ESG Policy
Agnieszka joined PHI in 2004 as a member of PMI’s Corporate Affairs team in the Polish sector, and has since advanced various positions within the organization.
She attended the University of Warsaw, where she received her Masters in Management and Management and a Graduate Degree in Public Relations. She also holds an Executive MBA from the Warsaw Institute of Technology Business School.
Daniel Saubari – President Dedas
Daniel Säuberli is the president of the Digital Identity and Data Sovereignty Association (DIDAS). His company’s goal is to guide the digital world to a wide range of industries and individuals, making it easy to exchange identity and associated proprietary data electronically without compromising data ownership and privacy.
Didas is currently working with the Swiss Union to strengthen the country’s digital trust infrastructure. Daniel studied at the Questrom Business School at Harvard and Boston University.
Karim Nemr- Chief Business Officer, PXL Vision
Karim Nemr has worked at PXL for over eight years and leads the rates for businesses dedicated to improving digital security, supporting businesses through digital transitions, and making online spaces more accessible to everyday users.
He previously worked in project management at AI Lab and at Dacuda AG. He is a guest lecturer at St. Gallen University and a trainer and coach at Venture Love.
