DigiD and the fight for our digital sovereignty
At PixelUnion, we have a clear mission: to free your precious photos from the big American tech platforms and store them safely on European soil. Recently, our vision of digital independence received a powerful endorsement from the Dutch government. The cabinet decided to block the takeover of Solvinity the company that manages the infrastructure behind DigiD by the American IT company Kyndryl.
What is DigiD, exactly?
For our international friends and followers, it is worth explaining what DigiD actually is. DigiD (short for Digitale Identiteit, or Digital Identity) is the central digital identification system for virtually all residents of the Netherlands. It is commonly referred to as the “digital key to the government.”
DigiD is used to log in approximately 1.5 million times every day. Dutch citizens use it for almost everything:
- Filing tax returns
- Applying for healthcare allowances
- Arranging student finance
- Viewing personal medical records at hospitals
In short, without this digital key, contact between citizens and the government comes to a complete standstill.
Why did the government intervene?
The reason for the intervention was concern about national security and digital autonomy. Solvinity manages the technical engine room on which this identity system runs. When a crucial party like this is taken over by a foreign power, the Netherlands loses its exclusive control over its own vital processes.
The cabinet feared that an American owner would open the door to access to the confidential data of millions of Dutch citizens a risk that The Hague simply was not willing to take.
The dangers of foreign legislation
The biggest obstacle is American legislation, in particular the US CLOUD Act. This law gives the American government far-reaching powers to request data from American companies, regardless of where in the world that data is physically stored.
If the DigiD infrastructure were to fall into American hands, the data would technically come under the jurisdiction of Washington. A real scenario emerged in which:
- A foreign power could block access to DigiD.
- Sensitive information could be viewed, which could fundamentally damage public trust in the government.
A victory for Europe
Blocking this takeover on the basis of the Wet ongewenste zeggenschap telecommunicatie (WOZT the Undesired Control over Telecommunications Act) is a rare but necessary decision. It shows that digital infrastructure is not a side issue, but an essential part of our national security.
The government is choosing strategic autonomy: we want to remain in control of our own data and the services that keep our country running.
“The security and reliability of citizens’ data are non-negotiable.”
Director of Logius (the administrator of DigiD)
What does this mean for you?
At PixelUnion, we applaud this decision. It confirms exactly what we stand for: privacy and security are not options, but fundamental rights. If the government is already concerned about the influence of foreign legislation on public data, why would we think differently about our most personal possessions our photos and memories?
We believe in a future in which we are not dependent on the whims of foreign tech giants. By choosing services with servers on European soil, operating under the world’s strictest privacy rules, you take back control of your own digital life.
The government drew an important line with DigiD. It is time for us as consumers to do the same. Free your data, choose sovereignty.
Read how we protect your privacy on European soil at PixelUnion.eu