What actually is a De-Mail?
A representative of the Federal Ministry of the Interior announced the end of De-Mail in the German administration on his Twitter account. But what actually is a De-Mail? The backgrounds.
“On August 31, 2024, De-Mail will end in administration, finally!!! Hardly used, expensive and cumbersome.” State Secretary in the Federal Ministry, Markus Richter, recently gave up Twitter the indication that the federal government no longer wants to use the encryption service in the future.
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What actually is a De-Mail?
The De-Mail is an encryption service, which the federal government has been offering in Germany since March 2012. This allows users to send electronic messages securely. The dispatch, receipt and content of the transmissions can be proven on request with legal effect.
Similar to a normal e-mail, De-Mail is intended to guarantee confidential and reliable electronic communication. Because only users with a verified identity can send and receive De-Mails. Certified providers must also meet various requirements and security standards.
Demand for De-Mail very low
The encryption service was primarily intended for the exchange of confidential documents, communication with authorities or the legally valid delivery of documents. So he should replace the conventional letter.
However, De-Mail has not been particularly successful since it was introduced. There are only a few providers who still provide the service. Because even before the decision of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Telekom, for example, stopped the service completely in December 2022. All accounts have been irretrievably deleted.
1&1 CEO criticizes the decision
The reason why the public administration is parting ways with De-Mail right now is that the framework agreement with the provider FP Digital Business Solutions expires at the end of August 2024. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of the Interior at the request of c’t with. The legal implementation of the end is currently being examined.
United Internet AG, which also owns GMX and Web.de, intends to continue using the encryption service. Its CEO Jan Oetjen criticized the decision of the administration. In his view, De-Mail remains the only interoperable and available standard for legally binding digital communication in Germany. The company will continue to offer the service.
De-Mail: Bund-ID as an alternative solution
In his tweet, Markus Richter called on the few authorities that have previously integrated De-Mail to switch to alternatives. In a hashtag, he named the options as options Confederation ID. In another hashtag he mentioned the electronic court and administration mailbox (EGVP) and the so-called company account.
In May 2023 decided the federal government also a new one draft law, according to which digital applications can be made throughout Germany using the Bund-ID as a central citizen account. This should make it easier for citizens and companies in Germany to deal with important official matters digitally.
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