Meet Verimi – Germany’s answer to US tech heavyweights Google & Facebook

An alliance of German corporations is launching a single sign-on key for network applications in an attempt to challenge the dominance of American tech giants.

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The data platform Verimi (a combination of the words “verify” and “me”) is due to start early next year.

“With this cross-industry initiative, we are bolstering the digital expertise in Europe. Verimi has the potential to combine the highest standards of data protection and security with user-friendliness,” said Lufthansa board member Harry Hohmeister.

Lufthansa, Deutsche Telekom, and IT company Bundesdruckerei have recently joined the initiative which has been set by Allianz, Axel Springer, Daimler, Deutsche Bank, Postbank and Here.

The platform’s single sign-on "master key" is meant to simplify the process of logging onto websites and utilize internet processes more securely.

US data platforms have repeatedly been criticized in Europe for their dominance on the web. With the new platform, the German alliance aims to change the process of signing up for online profiles of users via their Google, Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Verimi’s “master key” requires users to log onto the platform once using their name and a password. Logging onto a new application will no longer require personal data to be entered each time. Users won’t need several passwords for different websites.

According to the platform’s official website, it will be available to a broad range of users in the automotive, finance, IT, aviation, media, technology, telecommunications and insurance sectors.

It is also establishing the “framework for personalized advertising and content that is both data protection-compliant and matches users’ preferences.”