Denmark's launch of AltID, a government-backed digital wallet, prompted questions about what the new technology means for citizens and how it differs from existing digital identity systems.

Major Danish national media outlets, including DR, reported on the new technology. Several leading publications, including Ekstra Bladet, Input Magazine, Mere Mobil and IT Kanalen, sought expert comment from the OpenID Foundation community. Frederik Krogsdal Jacobsen, Staff Software Engineer at Idura and an active participant in the OpenID Foundation’s Digital Credentials Protocols Working Group, explained how the technology works, how it differs from previous approaches, and some of the practical considerations that remain.

Helping the Danish media understand what AltID means for consumers

Frederik talked through the shift from MitID's centralised authentication model to AltID's selective disclosure approach, using practical examples to illustrate how it works. For example, proving you're over 18 without showing a full ID, or proving your name without your address.

He also highlighted two areas for further consideration. First, because AltID relies on smartphones, it depends on a small number of global mobile platforms, making alternative forms of access, such as dedicated physical devices, an important longer term consideration. Second, he noted that, as with MitID, some older users may find the technology challenging to adopt.

Why journalists turned to the OpenID Foundation 

AltID is one of several national digital wallets being introduced as part of the broader EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW) initiative, alongside programmes underway in Germany, Italy and all other EU member states. 

The OpenID Foundation has developed the open international standards that let digital wallets like AltID issue and verify credentials in a consistent way. These are the same standards underpinning the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW) programme. As of December 2026, EU member states are legally required to trust credentials from Notified EUDI wallets, creating a foundation for cross border recognition. Once AltID is notified, credentials built to this standard can be trusted across Europe, not just within Denmark, and sets the foundations for interoperability globally.

That makes the Foundation's community a natural point of call when a national launch like AltID raises questions that go beyond one country: what selective disclosure actually means in practice, how wallets differ from what came before, and what still needs to be solved as they scale. 

As more countries launch, public interest will grow. This interest will be centred in understanding how these systems protect privacy and security compared to existing systems. For Danish users accustomed to eID systems that log usage, understanding how selective disclosure limits data exposure is the more pressing question. 

Journalists, in turn, are looking for experts who can explain this credibly and without commercial interest, which is why standards experts, rather than commentators unfamiliar with the underlying technology, are becoming essential sources as these launches continue.

The AltID launch is one example of how national digital identity developments are creating demand for independent technical expertise. As digital wallet deployments continue across Europe, the OpenID Foundation's community is well placed to provide context on the standards, interoperability and implementation considerations behind these initiatives, and proud to offer that expertise where it is needed.

About the OpenID Foundation

The OpenID Foundation (OIDF) is a global open standards body committed to helping people assert their identity wherever they choose. Founded in 2007, we are a community of technical experts leading the creation of open identity standards that are secure, interoperable, and privacy preserving. The Foundation’s OpenID Connect standard is now used by billions of people across millions of applications. In the last five years, OAuth2 - the FAPI standard for interoperable, high security - has become the standard of choice for Open Banking and Open Data implementations, allowing people to access and share data across entities. Today, the OpenID Foundation’s standards are the connective tissue that enable people to assert their identity and access their data at scale, the scale of the internet, enabling “networks of networks” to interoperate globally. Individuals, companies, governments and non-profits are encouraged to join or participate. Find out more at openid.net.