Press Release: Most Czechs are aware of the digital identity card. But they are mainly waiting for authorities to encourage its use.
Prague, June 27, 2024 – The technology company Qinshift commissioned a public opinion survey to examine the awareness and usage of the digital identity card (eDoklady) application among citizens of the Czech Republic. The survey results revealed that the majority (84.8%) of Czech nationals are already aware of the possibility of using a digital identity card. However, only 15.4% of the respondents have actually used this technology. Over a third of the surveyed citizens cited acceptance by Czech authorities as their main motivation for the future use of the eDoklady app. Starting from July 1, 2024, this change is being implemented across the bulk of public institutions that Czech citizens commonly interact with.
More than four-fifths of the survey respondents (84.8%) are aware of the possibility of using a digital identity card through eDoklady. The app has been available in the Czech Republic since January 2024. Awareness is slightly higher among men (89.7%) than among women (80%). Approximately one-fifth of the respondents (21.1%) have the eDoklady app installed on their mobile devices, with installation rates higher among men (25.1%) than among women (16.7%). However, only 15.4% of the respondents have actually used it to verify their identity.
Jiří Voldán
Director of Global Delivery for Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance at Qinshift
Several findings have become clear from the data. The public is quite well informed about the existence and potential applications of the digital identity card, with one-fifth of the respondents already installing the eDoklady app on their mobile devices out of curiosity about its potential use.
Since January 2024, the eDoklady app has enabled identity verification at several central administrative offices in the Czech Republic (e.g., Czech Telecommunication Office, Energy Regulatory Office, Office for Protection of Economic Competition, and others). However, starting from July 1, 2024, it will significantly expand to places where citizens frequently interact, such as financial institutions, labor offices, health insurance services, regional authorities, and Czech Point branches. According to Qinshift’s survey findings, this step will likely be the most visible change in the practical use of eDoklady in the Czech Republic. The Czech Police began accepting digital identity cards earlier than originally announced, starting in April this year.
The majority of respondents (59.7%) expressed interest in using a digital identity card on their mobile phones in the future, with slightly higher interest among men (62.2%) than among women (57.5%). Approximately one-third of the respondents (35.3%) stated that they would start using a digital identity card once it is accepted by all major public institutions and authorities in the Czech Republic. Concerns about privacy and personal data security were mentioned by only 16.1% of the respondents as a possible reason for relenting to use the eDoklady app.
“The adoption speed of new digital tools and applications is clearly increasing according to our data. When we helped build and launch one of the first mobile banking apps in the Czech Republic for Komerční Bank in 2002, it was not until the broader adoption of smartphones in 2011 that the app’s use became widespread. Although the eDoklady app has only been operational since January 20, 2024, one-fifth of Czech citizens have already become acquainted with it in this short timespan,” Voldán added regarding the survey results.
The survey results indicate that general awareness of the digital identity card’s existence and capabilities is high among the population. Actual usage could significantly increase with the start of July 2024. A significant portion of the population shows interest in its future use, representing a great potential for broader adoption of this technology in the near future.
The survey was conducted online by the Stem/mark agency, and included 508 respondents aged 18 to 64.