When we first introduced WhoIdentifies.me, a simple yet previously unanswered question was at its core: Who accesses which data within the emerging eIDAS ecosystem; essentially a European equivalent of ID Austria? With the publication of our prototype, we are pleased to come significantly closer to answering this question.

The background of the project remains as relevant as ever. With the further development of eIDAS and the introduction of the European Digital Identity Wallet, an infrastructure is emerging that goes far beyond traditional online authentication. Digital identity is thus becoming a central building block of everyday digital life in Europe. Government-verified identity attributes such as name, age, and -according to the current state of development- even biometric data can be used in a wide range of contexts, from administrative procedures to private online services. Precisely because this infrastructure is intended for such broad use, the question of transparency becomes all the more urgent. While its technical and legal framework is being intensively discussed, the concrete data flows that arise in everyday life often remain invisible.

This is precisely where WhoIdentifies.Me comes in. The core idea, as outlined in our Concept Note, is to bring together publicly available information from national registers and other sources and to create a comprehensible overall picture. With our prototype, we make this approach tangible for the first time. It demonstrates how a previously fragmented system can be brought together within a single interface. In doing so, it becomes clearer which companies and public authorities are part of the eIDAS ecosystem.

It also highlights that transparency is not only a question of “who,” but also of “what.” What matters is not only which organizations use digital identity systems, but also which data they request in this context. This perspective makes it possible to compare data flows and to think beyond individual use cases. Only then does a foundation emerge on which patterns can be identified and developments tracked.

The prototype deliberately remains at a simple and fundamental level and does not attempt to anticipate every possible analytical function. Instead, it demonstrates that the necessary data is, in principle, available and can be prepared in a way that is accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences. Since eIDAS is conceived as a European infrastructure, a particular emphasis is placed on moving beyond national perspectives and creating a shared, cross-border overview.

This also indicates the direction in which the project can evolve. Our vision goes beyond mere representation: the goal is to develop a tool that makes changes within the system visible at an early stage. In an environment where sensitive, government-verified data is used in an increasing number of contexts, the need to monitor and critically assess these developments also grows. Transparency is a crucial foundation; for public debate and, ultimately, for effective regulation.

At the same time, it becomes clear that truly understanding digital identity requires more than laws and technical specifications. It requires tools that make visible what is actually happening.

For this reason, we warmly invite you to participate in our workshop. There, we will present the current state of the prototype and further develop it together with participants. The workshops are aimed at NGOs, researchers, and anyone interested in the practical use and implications of the European digital identity infrastructure. The objective is to gather feedback and actively shape the development of the planned pilot, which will integrate real data from Member States and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.