Shared e-scooter companies Bolt and Dott have introduced mandatory ID checks in Brussels to improve safety and traceability, following concerns from local mayors and the Public Prosecutor that scooters are being used by drug dealers. Although both companies operate across Europe, the ID verification currently applies only to e-scooters in Brussels.
All users must now scan an official identity document in the app before riding. The verification is automatic, GDPR-compliant, and only needs to be done once. The companies are also discussing a possible future “selfie check” before each ride, which would compare a user’s selfie with their ID photo, but this requires further technological development.
Bolt stresses that shared scooters are already highly regulated: speed limits, geolocation, and user registration all contribute to accountability. The ID check now adds another layer of traceability to help address misuse.
Some local officials, such as Etterbeek mayor Vincent De Wolf, view the measure as an intermediate step toward full facial identification. There is also concern that drug couriers may simply switch to privately owned scooters, prompting calls for federal action such as adding license plates to private vehicles.
Both companies say they work closely with authorities and police, providing necessary information upon official request while respecting privacy rules, and see the new verification system as a tool to help reduce antisocial and unsafe behaviour.
