Household Digital Consumer Behaviour 2023

Introduction

In 2023, a new set of questions on the use of electronic identification were included in the survey questionnaire. Electronic identification (eID) enables the identification of a person and secure login to online services in Ireland or other European countries.

Examples of the use of eID to access public services include MyAccount for submitting your tax declaration or other services, MyGovID for applying for social benefits, requesting official certificates, NDLS, motor tax, etc.). Using electronic identification to access services provided by the private sector include accessing banking services, login to transport services, identification via eID e.g. on a digital marketplace such as Facebook Marketplace, etc. The details in this chapter highlight the high percentage of internet users use eID to access online services in the public and private sectors.

Eight in ten internet users use some form of electronic identification online

Key findings of internet users who had used the internet in the previous 12 months:

• Four in five had used electronic identification to get secure access to online services provided by the public or private sector. See Table 7.1.
• Of persons who had used eID in the previous 12 months, almost nine in ten (87%) has used eID such as MyGovID, MyAccount, etc. to access online services provided by public authorities/services. Over eight in ten (82%) of non-nationals had used eID to access public services compared with 88% of persons whose nationality was Irish. See Table 7.2.
• Over one quarter (27%) had used eID to access online services provided by public authorities/services in other European countries. 
• Almost all persons (95%) who had used eID had used electronic identification to access online services provided by the private sector, such as accessing banking services, login to transport services, identification via eID e.g. on a digital marketplace, (Facebook Marketplace, etc).
• Of persons who did not use eID in the previous 12 months, over one third (35%) were not aware of the existence of eID while over half (54%) said they did not have any form of eID, and a further one in twelve (8%) have an eID but didn’t need it to access any online services requiring eID in the previous 12 months. See Table 7.3.