Spid and Electronic Identity Card: what they are for and what is changing

Italy is betting everything on the electronic identity card. All the more so after the alarm raised by some providers, who could offer (or already offer) their electronic identity services for a fee. "Citizens and businesses can finally get to the electronic identity card, which unlike the Spid is also indicated at European level and is much more secure," said the undersecretary for Digital Innovation, Alessio Butti. By 2026, in fact, all EU states will have to have at least one digital identity wallet conforming to the Eudi wallet model. With the It wallet, which is part of the European project European digital identity wallet, s will be able to have a series of documents on the smartphone: in a first phase health card, disability card, then the driving licence and to follow other digital 'attributes', also from private providers.

First of all, Poste Italiane, which manages about 70 per cent of the utilities, clarifies by confirming that it is free of charge. It is Infocert, the private operator, that has announced the introduction of an annual fee of around EUR 6. Aligning itself with the decision also taken in recent days by Aruba, another important identity provider, which has declared that its service will no longer be free of charge. This is due to a very long wait for the disbursement of a contribution - due to providers - pro quota of a total fund of 40 million euro that the government had earmarked to support operating costs. At the moment, the funding has already been approved in March and, according to indications, payments to the various providers should start very soon.

"With regard to the news in recent days according to which there are no plans to provide payments to private providers offering the Spid service, and the consequence that the latter have begun to charge for this service, we launch an appeal to the government: let us all work, together, so that the offer to citizens of tools for digitalisation is broad, varied, accessible and free. And digitisation should become increasingly 'democratic'''. This was stated in a note by Paola Generali, president of Assintel Confcommercio, the trade association that brings together digital SMEs. "For the contingent phase," Generali continues, "we hope that the 40 million euro earmarked to reimburse the private providers offering the Spid service will arrive as soon as possible. First of all, to protect the millions of Italians who have activated the digital identity and allow the service to spread further. Secondly, we hope that the effort to make Italy an increasingly digital country will continue and increase, towards the challenging goals of the 2026 NRP. Goals that cannot disregard any of the opportunities offered so far to citizens for a real transition'.

"The latest 'Report on the state of the Digital Decade' tells us that the Italian government is doing well on digitalisation," emphasises Paola Generali, "but there is still a lot of work to be done and many resources to be allocated. The same report emphasises the importance of tools such as Spid to overcome the digital divide and the gap we have with the rest of Europe. We therefore believe that we must work to increase its use, in synergy, averting the risk that citizens may abandon its use because it has become pay-as-you-go. The common goal must be to enrich the digital offer to citizens and not deplete it. It is in this direction that our proposal of fixed garrisons in the neighbourhoods of our cities goes, to accompany citizens in the use of digital identity, explaining how to use it and being available for doubts and problems. Digital is an inclusive tool by its very nature and no one should be left behind'.