The Belgian e-ID and its complex path to implementation and innovational change

This article provides a critical view on the development and deploymentphase of the e-ID in Belgium since 1999. It is based on extensive desk research andfifteen in depth-interviews with experts and stakeholders from governmentadministration, academia and industry who have been key in the development ofthe e-ID. The article identifies different elements that influenced, both in a positiveand negative way, the societal, technical and political aspects of the Belgian e-ID. Itshows that no severe problems occurred during the initial deployment phase, whichcame to an end in 2009 providing over eight million Belgian citizens with an e-ID. The pre-existence of a National Register and the preliminary experiences with theexchange of digital information between administrative entities in the field of SocialSecurity enabled and facilitated the development and the distribution of the e-ID. However, the research also reveals that usage of the e-ID by citizens and uptakeof e-ID based services by administration and business remains limited due tomultiple factors. The complex system of state structures in Belgium and as aconsequence the dispersion of competences across different governmental entitiesmakes that no unified approach to e-government and e-ID based services has beendeveloped. From the industries’ point of view the privacy framework and the strictlyregulated use of the National Registration Number provides no clear view on theallowed use of data accessible through the e-ID hampering take up in this area