The Maltese government is preparing to launch a Digital ID app and adopt the digital euro, a new form of official digital money. While officials say this will modernise services, experts and civil liberties groups warn it could also lead to surveillance and financial control.
In the 2025 national budget, the Maltese government allocated funding to develop a Digital ID Wallet. This app will let people securely verify their identity online and access services like healthcare, banking, and public administration.
According to BiometricUpdate.com, the Digital ID system is expected to link with the EU’s European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) — a tool all EU member states must implement by 2026, as required by the updated eIDAS regulation.
BDO Malta confirmed that Malta’s version will likely include biometric login, digital signatures, and access to both government and private services.
Malta is also preparing for the introduction of the digital euro, a type of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) being developed by the European Central Bank (ECB). The goal is to offer a secure digital alternative to cash that is backed by central banks.
In late 2024, the Central Bank of Malta opened a public consultation on the digital euro, but critics argue there has been very little public discussion since then.
More info: ECB Digital Euro Overview
Privacy experts are raising alarms about what could happen if Digital ID and CBDCs are combined into a single app or system. They warn this could allow governments or corporations to:
Track what you buy and where you go
Set rules on how or where you can spend money (known as “programmable money”)
Link personal data like health records and finances in one place
The Cato Institute notes that programmable digital money could allow restrictions on purchases, limits on savings, or even freezes on accounts — depending on the government’s policies.
“This is a serious risk to privacy and freedom,” said one European legal analyst. “If not designed carefully, these systems could be used for control rather than convenience.”
The digital euro is expected to begin rollout across the EU by 2026, and Malta’s Digital ID Wallet project is already moving forward. But the public has had little say so far.
Privacy advocates are calling for:
Clear legal protections
Parliamentary oversight
Transparent public consultation