What are QEAA (Qualified Electronic Attestations of Attributes)?

A Qualified Electronic Attestation of Attributes (QEAA) is a secure digital certification provided by a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) that officially confirms specific attributes of a person or organization. Attributes commonly verified by a QEAA include age, nationality, professional qualifications, and membership in organizations.

Key points about QEAA:

• Legally recognized across the European Union under the eIDAS Regulation.
• Cryptographically secured, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the verified attributes.
• Privacy-focused, enabling individuals to selectively disclose only required attributes without revealing unnecessary personal data.
• Cross-border interoperability, allowing acceptance and usage throughout EU member states seamlessly.

QEAAs significantly simplify and secure online verification processes, reducing identity fraud and enhancing trust in digital interactions.

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Qualified Electronic Attestations of Attributes (QEAA) originate from the EU's eIDAS regulation (electronic Identification, Authentication, and Trust Services), aiming to standardize digital identification and trust services across the European Union. They help ensure reliable online verification of specific attributes, facilitating secure digital interactions.

QEAA relies heavily on advanced cryptographic methods:

• Digital Signature: Every QEAA is digitally signed by a Qualified Trust Service Provider, confirming its authenticity and preventing unauthorized modifications.
• Selective Disclosure: QEAA supports selective disclosure, allowing users to present only the necessary attribute(s) (like age or nationality), thereby protecting sensitive personal data.
• Secure Storage and Transmission: QEAA are securely stored and transmitted, typically integrated into digital wallets or secure repositories.

Common scenarios where QEAA enhances security and convenience:

• Online Age Verification: Platforms requiring age compliance (gaming, streaming services, alcohol purchasing sites) utilize QEAA for trusted verification.
• Professional Credentials: Medical practitioners, legal professionals, and other regulated professions securely validate their qualifications digitally using QEAA.
• Citizenship and Residency Checks: Government agencies and private organizations confirm users' citizenship or residency swiftly and securely online, enhancing efficiency in administrative processes.

QEAA is part of a broader ecosystem of digital identity verification solutions, complementing technologies such as Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), passkeys, and decentralized identifiers (DIDs). By integrating QEAA into digital identity workflows, services can offer more comprehensive and secure user verification, thus enhancing digital trust and user experience.

To get a QEAA, an individual or organization must approach a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) recognized under eIDAS. The QTSP rigorously verifies the claimed attributes using official documents or reliable databases before issuing the QEAA digitally.

QEAA stands for Qualified Electronic Attestation of Attributes, a legally recognized digital certificate confirming specific attributes under EU eIDAS regulation.

Only certified Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs), authorized under the EU's eIDAS regulation, can issue QEAAs.

QEAAs are widely used for secure online verification of attributes like age, professional qualifications, citizenship, or membership status, ensuring trust and compliance in digital transactions.

Yes, under the EU's eIDAS regulation, a QEAA issued in one EU member state is legally valid and recognized across all other member states.

A QEAA verifies specific attributes (e.g., age, nationality) securely online, while a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) legally binds an individual to a digital document or agreement.