Ottawa Signs Digital ID Deal With the EU: The Test App Is Already Out

The European Union (EU) and Canada are tightening their tech relationship after holding the first meeting of their new Digital Partnership Council in Montreal, earlier this week.

The two sides agreed to work more closely on artificial intelligence, digital identity systems and protecting independent media as tech continues to reshape how people work, communicate and get information. The meeting was held alongside the G7 tech ministers’ event, giving both governments a chance to align on where they want digital policy to go next.

A major part of the announcement is a new agreement on AI. Both sides say they want to develop AI systems that are safe and reliable, while still encouraging innovation for businesses. They’ll share best practices on AI regulation, skills training and standards, and help companies adopt AI in sectors like healthcare, energy, science and public services. The EU and Canada also plan to explore joint research and expand access to the powerful computing resources needed to train modern AI models.

Digital identity wallets were another focus. The EU and Canada signed an agreement to work toward interoperable digital credentials, which could make it easier for people to use things like digital licences or certificates across borders. They plan to run pilot programs and testing environments over the coming months (more on this below).

Both sides also raised concerns about the state of journalism. With news outlets under pressure and AI-generated content rapidly increasing, the EU and Canada want to find ways to support independent reporting and deal with misinformation and foreign interference online.

The partnership will also expand into areas like 5G networks, undersea internet cables, quantum tech, semiconductors and cybersecurity. The goal is to build more secure and resilient digital infrastructure at a time when global tech competition is heating up.

EU Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said the meeting marked “a significant step in strengthening our cooperation to build the economy of tomorrow,” adding that no region can navigate digital transformation alone.

Now, there’s a test app already out called “GC Wallet” in the Google Play Store, made by Employment and Social Development Canada. The app’s description says, “Securely store and present your official digital credentials. GC Wallet is a secure and convenient way to store and access your official digital credentials, such as temporary visas or digital personnel licenses (e.g. pilot license). Designed to support digital credentials built using both mDoc and W3C technologies, the app ensures your credentials are available when and where you need them.”

Many on social media are hoping this GC Wallet app didn’t cost $60 million dollars.

The EU and Canada first launched this digital partnership in 2023.