Press Release: eGovernment: Cologne Announces Introduction of Video Identification for Marriages and Resident Registrations

Following Wiesbaden's political decision, Cologne, the most populous city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, has also announced the adoption of the globally recognized video identification process developed by WebID. The decision includes the introduction of Video identification for the registration of marriages as well as for the registration of residences. A positive outcome was expected as the Greens, CDU, SPD, FDP and Volt have a clear majority on the Digitalization Committee. Video identification describes the globally established online identification procedure that replaces physical identification on site with a video call with trained personnel, in compliance with money laundering and data protection laws. Invented by Frank S. Jorga in 2011, BaFin confirmed the procedure's compliance in 2014, paving the way for the use of digital identity procedures in regulated areas in Germany. Today, it is a proven method for fast, secure and convenient identification across all industries and is increasingly used in eGovernment. In 2021, Wiesbaden pioneered the digital marriage registration process, marking the first implementation of its kind in Germany. Due to its remarkable user satisfaction rate of 94% and an impressive usage rate of 98% compared to the eID alternative introduced in 2022, the Hessian state capital extended the procedure to encompass digital residence registration last year. With Wiesbaden's recent announcement of a 100% user satisfaction rate following the citywide introduction of the procedure, Cologne's digital committee has been inspired to emulate this success. Consequently, they decided to adopt the WebID invention for both marriage and residence registration. Frank S. Jorga, Founder and Co-CEO of WebID Solutions, welcomes the announcement as a major step forward for eGovernment in Germany. He says: "The decision shows that the pioneering initiatives in Wiesbaden have become leading examples, inspiring major cities such as Cologne to follow suit. It is another step towards a digitally empowered future and a more citizen- and administration-centric Germany". With a population of 1.1 million, Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany. In addition to the influx of new registrations within the city, a total of 58,189 new residents and 4,600 marriage registrations will be physically processed in 2023 alone. In addition to implementing Video identification, Cologne's registry office is also planning to introduce the 'qualified electronic signature'. It is not yet known when the citizens of Cologne will be able to use these services. It is certain, however, that the administration will explore additional citizen services where identification via video call with a qualified agent could be a viable option. Contact Irena Anna Neumann | Head of Corporate Communications Email: irena.neumann@webid-solutions.de | Mobile: +49 151 422 274 33 About WebID Solutions WebID Solutions is a global financial technology company headquartered in Germany, with subsidiaries in Austria, Switzerland and Spain. The provider of digital identification and signature solutions also has offices in India and New York. Founded in 2012 by Frank S. Jorga, the company has made a significant contribution to the development of the digital age. With the invention and worldwide establishment of video identification, the company initially positioned itself as a pioneer in the online identification industry and is now considered a beacon company in the global industry. As the first German provider, WebID's identification technologies comply with the world's strictest security regulations and are internationally regarded as a model for the protection of digital identities. With eight online identification and signature solutions, the company is one of the few profitable providers in an international comparison, which is also due to the regular development of new markets. Since 2021, the British private equity company AnaCap has been an investor in the lighthouse company and is also counting on the success of the first German online ID congress, the ID X Summits - powered by WebID Solutions. www.webid-solutions.com