Digital ID footprint comparison

Sep 4, 2025 • 1 min read

Here’s a clear side-by-side comparison of how your digital footprint differs with vs. without using an eID.

Aspect	Without eID	With eID
Identity Link	Often tied to usernames, emails, or pseudonyms. Partial anonymity possible.	Strong link to your legal identity. Actions are verifiable and traceable.
Authentication	Passwords, PINs, or social logins (weaker, can be reused).	Cryptographic verification, biometrics, or 2FA tied to official credentials.
Trust Level of Footprint	Lower reliability — anyone could create multiple fake accounts.	High reliability — footprint is uniquely and legally tied to you.
Data Collected (Passive Footprint)	Browsing history, cookies, IP logs, app usage. Often fragmented across platforms.	Same as without eID + usage logs of every eID login/transaction, stored by government or providers.
Permanence	Some posts/accounts can be deleted or anonymized.	Permanent records (e.g., digital signatures, official forms) cannot be easily erased.
Convenience	Multiple logins, repeated ID verifications, more friction.	Single, secure login across many services (government, banking, healthcare).
Privacy Risks	Scattered exposure; breaches limited to specific services.	Centralized risk — if eID data is misused or hacked, multiple services could be exposed at once.
Legal Weight	Online actions often informal or pseudonymous.	Legally binding — contracts, applications, and transactions tied to your official ID.

Your footprint is more fragmented, sometimes anonymous, but less secure.

Your footprint is more secure, unified & trustworthy, but also more permanent, traceable & concentrated.