“Meet the People of Aptitude” introduces the experts and innovators working behind the Aptitude project, one of Europe’s large-scale pilots testing the European Digital Identity Wallet in real-life conditions.
In this interview, we meet Pierre Orszag, who leads Digital Travel Credentials at Aptitude and represents France Titres, the French authority for secure documents. His work sits at the intersection of passport issuance, border control and digital identity, bringing together the technical and institutional pieces needed to make the Digital Travel Credential a reality for European travellers.
What is the main role of Digital Travel Credentials within the Aptitude project?
“The main role of our work is to achieve a digital travel credential, a digital representation of a passport that will be stored inside the wallet. This will allow travellers to carry a secure digital version of their passport on their device, ready to use whenever they need it.”
What benefits do digital credentials bring in terms of border security and convenience for travellers?
“The benefits of the digital travel credential are significant. Waiting times at border control and boarding could be reduced because many of the verifications and checks that need to happen before travel could be anticipated if the digital travel credential has been transmitted before the flight. There is also an opportunity for travellers to ensure the correct use of their data and the correct revocation of their document.”
How are you collaborating with national authorities for credential issuance and revocation?
“At France Titres, we are the French authority for secure documents. We operate and maintain the information system that delivers passports under the guidance of the Ministry of the Interior. We are also very close to the administrations responsible for border control. We already sit between those two responsibilities, and of course we are very focused on the ability to revoke or withdraw a digital travel credential when needed.”
The Aptitude project brings together partners from 12 EU Member States and Ukraine to test the European Digital Identity Wallet in real-life scenarios such as travel, payments and digital services. The goal is to make digital identity secure, trusted and citizen-controlled, while ensuring services can work seamlessly across borders.
Learn more about Digital Travel Credentials: https://aptitude.digital-identity-wallet.eu/wallet-use/digital-travel-credentials/
Learn more about the Aptitude Consortium: https://aptitude.digital-identity-wallet.eu/our-consortium/
