EUDI Wallet App d-you: Project Lead Defends Launch Without Pseudonyms

The planned German EUDI wallet app, called "d-you", should go live even if the pseudonym function is not ready at launch. That is the position of project lead Torsten Lodderstedt, who responded to criticism from consumer protection groups in an interview.

Consumer advocates demand improvements

Consumer advocates are calling for changes to the app before it reaches the public. Their criticism centers on the missing pseudonym function, which is meant to let people prove who they are or confirm certain attributes without revealing their full identity. For privacy-minded users, that option is a central promise of a digital identity wallet.

Lodderstedt, who leads the project, argues for starting the app without that feature rather than delaying the whole release. The interview with c't addresses the critics' points directly.

Why it matters

The EUDI wallet is meant to become a digital container for identity documents and credentials in the EU. How much data users have to disclose in everyday situations will largely determine whether people trust and adopt it. A first version without pseudonyms may reach users sooner, but it also leaves a gap that privacy advocates consider significant.

The debate over d-you shows the trade-off facing the project: a quick launch on one side, full privacy features from day one on the other. Which of the criticized points will be addressed, and when, was the subject of the interview.