Estonia Wants to Give AI Agents Their Own National ID
Estonia plans to give AI agents their own official digital identity code, separate from the human or organization using them. Prime Minister Kristen Michal said this would let agents act on behalf of people or institutions while keeping their permissions limited, controllable, and auditable. The goal is to specify exactly what an agent can do — such as view records, draft documents, or make small payments — instead of letting it inherit broad access to the user’s full digital identity. The proposal fits Estonia’s highly digital government, where AI tools are already used in schools and public services. It also reflects a broader push to define accountability as agentic AI becomes more capable. Estonia’s long-running digital infrastructure, including secure online government services and strong e-governance, makes it a candidate to lead this effort. No launch date or liability framework was provided.
