New German ID Card Speeds Up Internet Signature Campaigns

As of now, visitors to the openPetition.de website can use the online function of the German ID card to validly support petitions.

According to Article 17 of the German constitution, every person has the right to address requests or complaints to competent authorities and to the legislature. Now, with the online ID function of the new German ID card, binding and verified signatures from petition signers can be collected on the Internet for the first time ever on the openPetition website. Supporters can identify themselves on the website using their ID cards. This prevents any media inconsistencies and makes time-saving signature campaigns possible.

“Thanks to the online ID function of the new German ID card, the supporter’s name, address and minimum age can be verified online. With the new ID card, once time-consuming signature campaigns conducted in pedestrian areas can now be carried out securely online,” explained Joerg Mitzlaff, founder of this private initiative. openPetition has the backing of Bundesdruckerei GmbH.

“Together with openPetition, we are showing how the new German ID card and its online ID function are boosting citizen participation on the Internet,” Ulrich Hamann, CEO of Bundesdruckerei GmbH, explained.

In order to support a petition online at openPetition, a visitor needs a new German ID card with the online ID function activated and a personal six-digit PIN. A card reader and a PC with Windows or Linux OS are also needed on which a plugin (AusweisApp) is installed for the Firefox or Internet Explorer browser.