On 1 February 2010, French State Secretary for the development of the Digital Economy Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet officially presented 'IDéNum', a single electronic identity certificate which will enable web surfers to access various online services. The aim is to promote the development over the Internet of services requiring a high degree of security.

Accessing one's bank account, performing financial transfers and using public eServices are some examples of those strong added value online services which depend upon a particularly high level of user authentication. In order to offer this type of services, most large organisations (Public Administrations, banks, companies and insurers) have put in place secured solutions whose use is limited to their respective services.

Such multiplicity of systems "incurs cost overruns for the company as well as disparate security levels for personal data and transactions" Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet said. In the end "those drawbacks may genuinely hamper the development of personalised eServices." she added.

Multi-service digital identity IDéNum intends to remove these obstacles by replacing all the passwords and other means used by the web surfers (login) to access their online accounts, both on public and private websites. The certificate has the following advantages:  

• It is compatible with all services that accept it;
• An Internet user can use a unique certificate to access different online services;
• A certificate matches a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) code. 

As a result, the web user only needs to memorise one code. "The certificate will make it possible to access new services such as taking out online contracts or applying for family or social allowances" Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet explained. 

People will be free to decide whether they will use IDéNum and which provider to choose. The system will moreover be easy to use and generate trust, given its high degree of security.  

In order to authenticate, the users will simply need to (1) connect a support device (e.g. mobile phone, chip card, USB key or MP3) holding a certificate which proves their surname and their name; (2) dial the PIN code online. "Not only is this more secured, but it is also simpler" than current systems, said the State Secretary who indicated that the protection level was that of a bank card.  

Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet thus gave the go ahead to the implementation of the system (structuring the system's management, defining the economical model, etc...). To date, the initiative gathers over 20 partners - including the French Banking Federation (FBF), the French Federation of Insurance Companies (FFSA), La Poste, the 'Caisse des dépôts' group, etc - under the leadership of the state. Eventually, it will be on these organisations to propose the certificate to the users and the consumers. The bodies requesting the certification will need to conform to the security and interoperability requirements established under the eGovernment framework.  

 

Further information:

• Original news article - ARTESI - ICT Development Agency of the Region 'ÃŽle-de-France' (in French)
• Presentation of IDéNum certificate (in French)