Here is a detailed comparison between Memdeklaro and the Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis (Digitalcourage Photo ID). While both are non-government, alternative identity solutions designed to challenge the state monopoly on identity and protect privacy, they differ significantly in their philosophy, issuance, cost, and target audience.

1. Core Philosophy & Purpose

• Memdeklaro: A humanitarian and self-sovereign identity project. Its primary goal is to provide a "last resort" identity for the millions of people globally who are excluded from society (e.g., stateless individuals, refugees, victims of abuse, or those unregistered at birth) because they lack government ID. It asserts that identity is a fundamental human right that belongs to the individual, not the state.
• Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis: A privacy-advocacy and tactical tool created by Digitalcourage e.V., a German digital rights NGO (formerly FoeBuD). Its purpose is "creative and bold resistance" against the everyday over-collection of personal data [[2]]. It is designed to train critical thinking about when an official ID is actually legally required versus when businesses or institutions ask for it out of habit or overreach (e.g., returning a laptop, entering a building, or hotel check-ins) [[2]].

2. Issuance & Authority

• Memdeklaro: Self-declared and locally generated. The user fills out a form in their web browser, and the ID is generated locally on their device [[1]]. No third party, organization, or government is involved in the issuance, and there is no central database.
• Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis: Issued by a third-party NGO. The user orders the physical card from the Digitalcourage online shop, and the organization acts as the issuer, printing and mailing the physical card to the customer [[1]].

3. Cost & Accessibility

• Memdeklaro: 100% Free and Open Source. Anyone with internet access can generate and print their own ID immediately at no cost. It is explicitly designed to be universally accessible, especially for those with no financial means.
• Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis: Costs money. It is sold as a physical product (a "gadget") in the Digitalcourage shop for approximately €15.00 per unit [[1]].

4. Data & Privacy Requirements

• Memdeklaro: Collects zero data. Everything runs locally in the user's browser. It intentionally omits place of birth, citizenship, and parents' names to allow users to escape hostile cultures or abusive backgrounds [[1]]. It also supports generating a Decentralized Identifier (DID) for digital use.
• Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis: Requires the user to provide their "desired data" (Wunschdaten) to the Digitalcourage shop for printing [[2]]. While it allows for pseudonymous or invented identities, the transaction (ordering and shipping) may leave a logistical trail with the NGO unless paid for and shipped using strict privacy measures (e.g., cash in advance or anonymous drop-shipping).

5. Format & Usability

• Memdeklaro: Provides digital files (PDF, front/back images) that the user can print themselves as a business card (85.6mm × 54mm), order as a CR-80 plastic card via a third-party printer, or use digitally with QR codes [[1]].
• Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis: Provided as a professionally printed, physical plastic card by Digitalcourage. It looks like a standard, official ID card, making it more convincing in casual, real-world social scenarios (e.g., showing it to a retail worker or hotel clerk) [[2]]. It also famously allows non-biometric photos (e.g., smiling, or even wearing a colander, as a form of protest) [[2]].

6. Legal Standing & Acceptance

• Both: Neither is a legally recognized government identity document. Neither can be used for border crossing, official banking KYC, or legal transactions requiring a state-issued ID.
• Memdeklaro: Explicitly states that "ID requirements do more harm than good" and encourages alternative trust mechanisms like reputation, bearer instruments (cash/Monero), or cryptography [[1]].
• Digitalcourage: Openly acknowledges that the card does not need to be accepted by anyone (e.g., train conductors can still demand an official ID per railway terms) [[2]]. However, it has been successfully used in social experiments, such as a journalist using it to vote and enter the royal palace in the Netherlands, proving that many institutions ask for ID without actually verifying its legitimacy [[2]].

Summary Comparison Table

Conclusion: Which one to choose?

• Choose Memdeklaro if you are stateless, unbanked, fleeing an abusive situation, or a strong advocate for self-sovereign identity (SSI) who wants a foundational, free, and entirely private identity framework without relying on any organization.
• Choose the Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis if you are a privacy-conscious individual (particularly in Europe) who wants a tangible, professionally printed prop to push back against unnecessary ID requests in daily life, while also financially supporting a digital rights NGO.