Electronic Identification Act updated

Finland's Act on Electronic Identification and Electronic Signatures (Electronic Identification Act) will be amended to correspond with EU legislation and promote e-commerce.

The amendment is to clarify the roles between actors providing means of identification and those providing identification services in the Finnish trust networks. Identification service providers are to set up a trust network in 2017.

In future, to obtain a strong means of identification, such as online bank identifiers or mobile certificates, the applicant will be required to present a passport or an official identity card. Beginning in 2019, a driving licence will no longer be considered an acceptable form of identification when applying for a strong electronic means of identification.

The President of the Republic approved the amendments to the Act on Electronic Identification and Electronic Signatures on 29 June 2016. The Act will enter into force on 1 July 2016.

The legislation concerning electronic signatures was amended in line with the EU Electronic Identification and Trust Services (eIDAS) Regulation which will enter into force on 1 July 2016. The amendment is also related to the Government's key projects, which are being implemented to build a growth environment for e-commerce and streamline regulation.