Devising DigiD: the performativity of sociotechnical imaginaries in national digital identity systems

Digital identity systems serve as essential gateways to public services in digital-by-default societies, yet they are often overlooked or regarded as ‘neutral’ tools. We argue, however, that these systems are shaped by sociotechnical imaginaries that influence both policy and technological design. This paper examines how such imaginaries inform and justify the development of national digital identity systems, using the Dutch ‘DigiD’ system as a case study. Through a critical discourse analysis of 366 governmental documents published by the Dutch government from 2004 to 2023, we identify three dominant sociotechnical imaginaries over time: efficiency (2004–2010), security (2010–2017), and user-centricity (2017–2023). Our findings suggest that DigiD’s technological development mirrors shifting value paradigms in political discourse. By examining DigiD, we suggest that sociotechnical imaginaries about digital identity systems are inherently performative. They describe and prescribe the trajectory of technological design at the same time. In doing so, this paper offers a framework for critically assessing the development of technologies that increasingly affect access and inclusion in digital societies.