What is EU Digital Passport

The EU Digital Passport, also known as the EU Digital COVID Certificate, is a digital certificate that proves a person was vaccinated against COVID-19, obtained a negative test result, or recovered from the virus. The certificate will allow safe and unrestricted movement within the European Union during the pandemic.

Each EU member state's national authorities issue the EU Digital Passport, including a QR code and the holder's personal and medical information. The certificate is not required for EU citizens, but it is expected to make cross-border travel more accessible and efficient.

All EU member states recognise the certificate, which can be used as proof of vaccination or negative test results while travelling throughout the EU. This means that persons will not be required to provide additional documentation or undergo further testing while crossing EU borders.

The EU Digital Passport allows individuals to access their personal and medical information via mobile. The certificate includes a QR code that provides the holder's personal and medical information, such as their name, date of birth, COVID-19 vaccination status, test results, or recovery status.

When a person presents their EU Digital Passport at a border control checkpoint, border officers can scan the QR code on the certificate. This enables officials to swiftly verify an individual's vaccination or test status without further documentation or testing.

The EU Digital Passport is intended to help public health efforts by encouraging COVID-19 immunisations and testing and simplifying travel throughout the EU.

The EU Digital Passport builds confidence in the safety of travel and public gatherings by offering a convenient and secure way to access and verify an individual's COVID-19 status while promoting public health goals.

Individuals, businesses, and governments in the European Union can all benefit from the EU Digital Passport. The following are some of the primary advantages of the EU Digital Passport:

• Facilitating Safe and Free Mobility

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the EU Digital Passport allows for safe and free mobility inside the EU. The certificate verifies immunisation, negative test results, or recovery from COVID-19, allowing individuals to travel borders without further testing or quarantine. This facilitates and expedites travel, encouraging the safe reopening of borders and the EU economy.

• Promoting Public Health

The EU Digital Passport promotes COVID-19 vaccines and testing, which aids public health activities. The EU Digital Passport builds confidence in the safety of travel and public gatherings by offering a convenient and secure way to access and verify an individual's COVID-19 status while promoting public health goals.

• Boosting the EU Economy

By encouraging safe and unrestricted travel inside the EU, the EU Digital Passport is intended to improve the EU economy. The certificate will make it easier for firms to conduct cross-border transactions, promoting trade and tourism.

It will also encourage the EU economy's safe reopening, allowing enterprises to resume normal operations and producing economic development.

• Providing a Secure and Convenient Solution

The EU Digital Passport allows individuals to access and share personal and medical information securely and conveniently. The certificate is viewable on a mobile device and includes a QR code, including the holder's personal and medical information. For those who do not have own a mobile device, the certificate is also accessible in print form.

• Supporting a Joint Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The EU Digital Passport is part of a more extensive European Union initiative to coordinate a joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The certificate is intended to assist EU member states with safely reopening their economy and borders while preserving public health.

The EU Digital Product Passport is being developed as a single digital platform where all EU-sold items, including their environmental and social impact, origin, and legitimacy, can be registered.

The goal is to increase supply chain transparency and sustainability while assisting consumers in making more informed purchasing decisions.

While the EU Digital Passport has some advantages, it has also sparked privacy and data protection issues. Here are some of the most severe privacy and data protection issues about the EU Digital Passport:

• Personal and Medical Data

The EU Digital Passport comprises personal and medical data, such as a person's name, date of birth, and COVID-19 status. This sensitive information should be kept secure from unauthorized access or use.

• Data Storage and processing

The EU Digital Passport depends on the secure and responsible storage and processing of personal and medical data.

The certificate must be by EU data protection rules, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which requires data controllers to establish adequate security measures to protect personal data.

• Cybersecurity Risks

Because the EU Digital Passport relies on technology to store and transmit personal and medical information, a data breach is dangerous. Hackers and other bad actors may seek to steal or manipulate personal and medical data, thus jeopardizing persons' privacy and health.

• Data Misuse

The EU Digital Passport could be used for purposes other than intended, such as discrimination or monitoring. The certificate should only facilitate safe and free movement within the EU and not be used for discriminatory or other purposes.

Finally, the EU Digital Passport is a critical project by the European Union to improve openness and sustainability in supply chains while facilitating safe and free mobility throughout the pandemic.

While privacy and data protection are concerns, the certificate is intended to protect personal data and comply with EU data protection rules.

The EU Digital Passport has the potential to transform how we think about personal and product information, as well as to stimulate tourist and commercial activities inside the EU.