The Nordic and Baltic societies have undergone a comprehensive digital transformation of the public sector in recent decades, with several public and financial services now requiring the use of eID. This study aims to explore how eID is being rolled out in smaller societies and the barriers and solutions to doing so in an inclusive manner. The report is based on extensive desk research and in-depth fieldwork conducted in the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland in 2024. During the fieldwork in the three societies, a total of 50 interviews were conducted with a range of stakeholders, including policymakers, NGOs, civil society representatives, banks, business representatives and municipalities.
The study highlights the specific challenges small societies face when adopting eID schemes in a way that ensures and promotes inclusivity. Although each case study presents a distinct set of implementation approaches and associated inclusivity barriers and solutions, various similarities and overlaps also emerged. These can provide valuable insights for the inclusive development and implementation of eIDs in other contexts as well. The report draws on these findings to present several key takeaways for an inclusive eID rollout, emphasising the importance of digital inclusion as a starting point in the design and implementation of eID schemes.