June 24, 2016 at 14:32What should be the real e-government? Estonia shows an example
The system of “electronic citizenship”, online voting, public services on the network and much more - this is modern Estonia
Two years ago, Estonia announced a new state program: the introduction of the so-called “electronic citizen” status for citizens of any other state. Having become an “electronic citizen” of Estonia, any foreigner gets a large number of business opportunities not only in this country, but also around the world. Among them are opening an account with an Estonian bank, registering a company, receiving an electronic signature to verify their documents anywhere in the world.
Registration of a company on a state online service takes only a couple of hours ( record - 18 minutes) In order to fill out an application, you must upload your photo and briefly describe the reasons that prompt a person to request a new status. After sending the application, this electronic form is checked by Estonian law enforcement authorities. If all is well, the candidate is invited to a meeting with representatives of the consulate (the meeting can take place in any city in any country where there is an Estonian consulate). And then, if the meeting went smoothly (and it usually happens), a month later the candidate for the “electronic citizen” receives his documents.
The main document is an Estonian ID-card with an electronic chip replacing the usual signature. Now 10,000 people have received such cards . And by 2025, the country hopes to increase the number of "electronic citizens" to 10 million.
The authors of this program call Estonia “country as a service”. Estonia is now the first in the world to digitalize government and government. And this attracts both entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens. Of course, in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, millions are striving to get into it. These countries owe much to labor migrants. The competition among these countries for skilled workers, researchers is quite great.
Now there are 1.3 million citizens in Estonia. The climate here is far from ideal: the country is located at the same latitude as Alaska. And since Estonia is a member of the European Union, its citizens often go abroad in search of a better life. As a result, the population is declining. A few years ago, the government began to think about how to ensure for themselves and their citizens, if not prosperity, then a worthy existence. How to attract the attention of a small country where there are almost no natural resources, does the demographic situation leave much to be desired? This path has been found. This is a "number."
25 years after gaining independence, Estonia has developed the most developed digital infrastructure in the world. Signatures - digital, pay tax online? A couple of minutes, no longer required. Online voting? You are welcome. No ballot boxes, booths in schools and other details of the election. All you need is a computer or phone. No, of course, you can vote in person, but many Estonians still prefer the “number”.
The first digital elections were held in Estonia in March 2007 . Then only 3.4% of voters voted online. Now this indicator has increased many times. To work with the electronic voting system, you need to use your personal identification smart card. A digital signature and a card reader are also needed.
The electronic voting interface is simpler than paper ballots with their small text. Data entered by the voter in an online form is encrypted and sent to the voting server. All these data are decrypted on election day at a specific time. No merry-go-rounds and other tricks - each voice can be identified.
Citizens of the country began to issue ID cards back in 2002. Obtaining them has become mandatory for every citizen. The card allowed you to confirm bank transactions and sign documents with a digital signature. This type of identity verification has become the standard throughout the European Union since 1999.
E-Citizen Card and Card Reader
With the introduction of such a system, Estonia was able to provide the necessary resources and opportunities not only to citizens living in the territory of the state, but also to representatives of diasporas. As soon as the government became convinced of the effectiveness of such a work model, the idea of introducing “electronic citizenship” came up.
In order to involve all citizens of the state in the process of switching to digital, the Estonian government is making significant efforts. In particular, the level of computer literacy of the population is constantly increasing. Already in the late 1990s, all Estonian schools gained access to the Internet. Estonian schools also teach programming. The eKool national system stores all grades, homework, and information on child attendance. Parents can view their child’s data at any time.
Trying to translate into the digit and the older generation. So, in 2009, we implemented a program for retirees - as part of this project, computer science classes were held for this category of the population, and the purchase of a PC was subsidized. For two years, 40 thousand people took part in the program.
Estonia seems very old-fashioned. But this applies only to the architecture of historical centers, and not to the principles of the functioning of the modern state.
Now about 99% of all public services are available online. For example, through a single portal of public services, you can get a driver’s license, register a child’s birth, apply for social benefits. In addition, 95% of tax returns in the country are also filed online.
With the advent of the Global Network, many of its users began working in foreign companies, physically being in their native country. Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to offer their services and goods abroad.
More and more people began to look for the opportunity to legally conduct business abroad, with the most simplified registration system for such a business and security guarantees. Someone just wanted to get international status, while someone else was put in an obstacle by the government of their own country.
And Estonia decided to give an opportunity to everyone to register their business with themselves. Estonia has gradually turned into a digital environment that allows entrepreneurs to run their international business.
According to the rules of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), "taxes must be paid where production facilities are located and basic income is created." This means that an independent entrepreneur who has created a company in Estonia and lives in the USA, France or Singapore must pay taxes in that country.
The more people and companies become “electronic citizens” and register their business in this country, the more customers appear at Estonian companies.
When an “electronic citizen” goes through the process of registering his business, he will most likely have to turn to Estonian companies for help (creating a bank account, signing a contract with a payment provider, working with accountants, lawyers and auditors. All this helps to develop the Estonian economy.
It is also worth noting that Estonia, in the process of implementing its program to create a digital public infrastructure, does not seek help from international corporations and does not pay for licenses. that operate domestic experts - for example, the company Nortal.
Country as a Service is a pretty attractive opportunity for everyone. And this opportunity attracts more and more people and companies. Now the Estonian government expects an avalanche-like increase in the number of applications for obtaining "electronic citizenship".
The main thing for the country now is to provide reliable support for various types of business of its customers. The emphasis is on supporting microbusiness and small business - these are the most vulnerable business entities in any country, therefore Estonia is trying its best to protect them.
The country's government hopes that by 2025 there will be already 10 million “electronic citizens”. This is ten times more than the current population of the country.
Two years ago, Estonia announced a new state program: the introduction of the so-called “electronic citizen” status for citizens of any other state. Having become an “electronic citizen” of Estonia, any foreigner gets a large number of business opportunities not only in this country, but also around the world. Among them are opening an account with an Estonian bank, registering a company, receiving an electronic signature to verify their documents anywhere in the world.
Registration of a company on a state online service takes only a couple of hours ( record - 18 minutes) In order to fill out an application, you must upload your photo and briefly describe the reasons that prompt a person to request a new status. After sending the application, this electronic form is checked by Estonian law enforcement authorities. If all is well, the candidate is invited to a meeting with representatives of the consulate (the meeting can take place in any city in any country where there is an Estonian consulate). And then, if the meeting went smoothly (and it usually happens), a month later the candidate for the “electronic citizen” receives his documents.
The main document is an Estonian ID-card with an electronic chip replacing the usual signature. Now 10,000 people have received such cards . And by 2025, the country hopes to increase the number of "electronic citizens" to 10 million.
The authors of this program call Estonia “country as a service”. Estonia is now the first in the world to digitalize government and government. And this attracts both entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens. Of course, in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, millions are striving to get into it. These countries owe much to labor migrants. The competition among these countries for skilled workers, researchers is quite great.
Now there are 1.3 million citizens in Estonia. The climate here is far from ideal: the country is located at the same latitude as Alaska. And since Estonia is a member of the European Union, its citizens often go abroad in search of a better life. As a result, the population is declining. A few years ago, the government began to think about how to ensure for themselves and their citizens, if not prosperity, then a worthy existence. How to attract the attention of a small country where there are almost no natural resources, does the demographic situation leave much to be desired? This path has been found. This is a "number."
National Digital Infrastructure
25 years after gaining independence, Estonia has developed the most developed digital infrastructure in the world. Signatures - digital, pay tax online? A couple of minutes, no longer required. Online voting? You are welcome. No ballot boxes, booths in schools and other details of the election. All you need is a computer or phone. No, of course, you can vote in person, but many Estonians still prefer the “number”.
The first digital elections were held in Estonia in March 2007 . Then only 3.4% of voters voted online. Now this indicator has increased many times. To work with the electronic voting system, you need to use your personal identification smart card. A digital signature and a card reader are also needed.
The electronic voting interface is simpler than paper ballots with their small text. Data entered by the voter in an online form is encrypted and sent to the voting server. All these data are decrypted on election day at a specific time. No merry-go-rounds and other tricks - each voice can be identified.
Citizens of the country began to issue ID cards back in 2002. Obtaining them has become mandatory for every citizen. The card allowed you to confirm bank transactions and sign documents with a digital signature. This type of identity verification has become the standard throughout the European Union since 1999.
E-Citizen Card and Card Reader
With the introduction of such a system, Estonia was able to provide the necessary resources and opportunities not only to citizens living in the territory of the state, but also to representatives of diasporas. As soon as the government became convinced of the effectiveness of such a work model, the idea of introducing “electronic citizenship” came up.
In order to involve all citizens of the state in the process of switching to digital, the Estonian government is making significant efforts. In particular, the level of computer literacy of the population is constantly increasing. Already in the late 1990s, all Estonian schools gained access to the Internet. Estonian schools also teach programming. The eKool national system stores all grades, homework, and information on child attendance. Parents can view their child’s data at any time.
Trying to translate into the digit and the older generation. So, in 2009, we implemented a program for retirees - as part of this project, computer science classes were held for this category of the population, and the purchase of a PC was subsidized. For two years, 40 thousand people took part in the program.
Estonia seems very old-fashioned. But this applies only to the architecture of historical centers, and not to the principles of the functioning of the modern state.
Now about 99% of all public services are available online. For example, through a single portal of public services, you can get a driver’s license, register a child’s birth, apply for social benefits. In addition, 95% of tax returns in the country are also filed online.
What does “country as a service” mean?
With the advent of the Global Network, many of its users began working in foreign companies, physically being in their native country. Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to offer their services and goods abroad.
More and more people began to look for the opportunity to legally conduct business abroad, with the most simplified registration system for such a business and security guarantees. Someone just wanted to get international status, while someone else was put in an obstacle by the government of their own country.
And Estonia decided to give an opportunity to everyone to register their business with themselves. Estonia has gradually turned into a digital environment that allows entrepreneurs to run their international business.
Where does an “electronic citizen” have to pay taxes?
According to the rules of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), "taxes must be paid where production facilities are located and basic income is created." This means that an independent entrepreneur who has created a company in Estonia and lives in the USA, France or Singapore must pay taxes in that country.
And what does Estonia get?
The more people and companies become “electronic citizens” and register their business in this country, the more customers appear at Estonian companies.
When an “electronic citizen” goes through the process of registering his business, he will most likely have to turn to Estonian companies for help (creating a bank account, signing a contract with a payment provider, working with accountants, lawyers and auditors. All this helps to develop the Estonian economy.
It is also worth noting that Estonia, in the process of implementing its program to create a digital public infrastructure, does not seek help from international corporations and does not pay for licenses. that operate domestic experts - for example, the company Nortal.
“Electronic citizens” may be more than ordinary
Country as a Service is a pretty attractive opportunity for everyone. And this opportunity attracts more and more people and companies. Now the Estonian government expects an avalanche-like increase in the number of applications for obtaining "electronic citizenship".
The main thing for the country now is to provide reliable support for various types of business of its customers. The emphasis is on supporting microbusiness and small business - these are the most vulnerable business entities in any country, therefore Estonia is trying its best to protect them.
The country's government hopes that by 2025 there will be already 10 million “electronic citizens”. This is ten times more than the current population of the country.