Web stores want online identification system for safer shopping

Online stores are asking the government for a public online means of identification, similar to the government's DigiD. This will greatly improve safety in online shopping, according to branch organizations Detailhandel Nederland and Thuiswinkel.org, and travel companies' organization ANVR, the Telegraaf reports.

The lack of online identification creates a distinct difference between online and physical trading, and promotes identity fraud, a spokesperson for Thuiswinkel.org said to the newspaper.

The organizations believe that identification is a core task of the central government, which is why they are turning to the government to come up with an online identification system.

"For government agencies, this is done through DigiD, but it is not yet available for businesses and that is a missed opportunity", they said in a letter to Minister Raymond Knops of Home Affairs.