German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/83,
pp. 9934-9935.
Frau President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen. Valued
colleagues.
The Union demands in the motion put forward that secure
digital identities be introduced in Germany as soon as possible, a proposal
which indeed over ten years ago was started, yet was only half-heartedly
implemented. Already in November 2010 was the personal certificate [Personalausweis] with its online function
introduced in Germany. Yet this form of a digital identity was scarcely used in
this country, with at one time just 10 percent. The reasons are at hand:
Noteworthy applications are lacking. The online function is plainly and simply
scarcely recognized by the people. It is thus no wonder that trust is lacking.
And who is responsible for this digital obstruction? That delegation which
today demands the introduction of secure digital identities in Germany.
Stefan Müller (CDU/CSU): Did you actually copy the speech of the Ampel?
Yet the Ampel’s
sad digital policy can also be criticized. That unfortunately is still bitterly
necessary.
I come now to your motion. Your motion’s first demand is
practically hollow. By the end of the first quarter of 2023, you demand a
strategy for digital identities. As if we still hadn’t enough strategies!
Markus Reichel (CDU/CSU): We don’t!
There are already national strategies for artificial intelligence,
for data, for Open Source, ja, for
digital in general. Valued ladies and gentlemen, we have no conception problem,
but an implementation problem.
Markus Reichel (CDU/CSU): We also have a conception problem!
To here write an additional strategy paper would be the same
as a digital insolvency delay.
The people in Germany self-evidently expect a secure
solution for their digital identities. That refers not only to the claim to
digital services but also to purchase and financial transactions on the net.
Valued colleagues, that is an urgent theme. That is indicated by the frantically
growing number of internet frauds based on misuse of available identities.
Valued colleagues of the Union, your motion rightly
criticizes that the Ampel for long
has not realized the so-called Smart eID and only holds out a prospect of rapid
realization, without saying where actually is the catch. In the presented form,
your delegation’s motion is scarcely capable of consent. Some aspects are not
addressed in your motion. For one, the question of a possibly obligatory use of
a digital identity is not presented. For another, the question of an analog
fallback option is lacking. Further, there follows no theme development of the
technical possibilities in foreign states of selecting without contact the
personal certificate over the eID function. For this problematic, the AfD
delegation first needs to put a minor inquiry.
Valued ladies and gentlemen, a goal of a secure digital
identity is, for example, to spare the citizens from dealing with officials, or
simplifying everyday living. We should however not lose sight of the risks of
an all-around surveillance.
Valued colleagues of the Union delegation, we invite you in
the future to bring in parliamentary initiatives for digital policy themes in
common with us as opposition in the German Bundestag.
Josef Oster
(CDU/CSU): Oje!
Markus Reichel (CDU/CSU): Nay. That, I believe, will not happen!
That might promise more prospect of success – for goodness
sake.
I am grateful.
[trans: tem]
