E-government

E-government, short for electronic government, uses technology like computers and the Internet to give public services faster to people. It helps people get help from the government more easily and quickly.

E-government has many kinds of digital communication. It can be between people and all levels of government, like city, state, or national. It also includes talking between different government offices, between the government and its workers, and between the government and businesses. These talks make it easier for everyone to get and share important information.

People use information and communication technology, such as websites, to connect with government services. This technology helps make government services more open and easy for everyone to use. It also helps governments do better work and serve the public.

Terminology

E-government, also called e-gov, electronic government, Internet governance, digital government, online government, or connected government, uses computers and the Internet to make government services faster and easier for everyone. It helps people get information and services from the government online.

E-government means using technology like the Internet to make government work better. It helps governments talk to citizens, other government parts, workers, and businesses.

Another idea is Government 2.0, which uses tools like websites and apps to let citizens help improve government. The government shares information and lets citizens and companies create new tools to make government work better.

E-governance is about using technology to make government better for everyone. It includes using the Internet to talk to citizens and make government services easier to use. Even without the Internet, e-government can use phones, text messages, and other tools to help people get government services.

Main article: E-governance

History

The idea of "electronic government" started in 1992, along with the idea of electronic democracy. Over the last 20 years, governments around the world have used technology to make public services better and cheaper. But sometimes these plans did not work very well. Some projects failed, and many only worked a little.

Because of these problems, the focus changed to something called "transformational government." This means not just using technology better, but also changing how governments work to make sure public services really get better. In 2010, a group called the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards looked at common problems. They found that many governments were starting to understand the big changes needed to make technology work well for everyone. Countries like the UK and Australia are leaders in this new way of doing things.

UN e-Government Development Index

The United Nations helps countries see how well they use technology for government services. They do this every two years with a list called the e-Government Development Index (EGDI). This list looks at 193 countries and checks three things: how many services are online, how good the internet connections are, and how skilled people are with technology. This helps each country know what it does well and what it can improve.

The index is made by adding up scores from these three areas and dividing by three. Many people from different countries help the United Nations collect information for this survey.

Main article: UN Member States

online volunteers

digital inclusion

Delivery models and activities of e-government

E-government helps people get services from the government online. There are four main ways this works:

• Government-to-citizen: This is when the government offers services to people directly. For example, citizens can visit websites to download forms or get information.
• Government-to-business: This is for businesses dealing with the government.
• Government-to-government: This is when different parts of the government share information.
• Government-to-employees: This is for government workers.

These services can include sharing information, talking back and forth with the government, doing tasks like paying taxes or applying for permits, and helping citizens take part in decisions. Examples of things you can do online include applying for a birth certificate, driver's license, or even paying fines and utilities.

Controversies

Disadvantages

E-government has some drawbacks. Not everyone has easy access to computers and the Internet, which can make it hard for some people to use these services. The information online might not always be reliable, and there are concerns about how this affects people's opinions.

There are also issues with how much money is spent on e-government and whether it really works well. Sometimes, new technology does not fit well with old ways of doing things, leading to problems.

One big concern is that putting too much information online might make it harder for people to keep their personal details private. If governments collect too much information, it could be misused.

Not everyone can use e-government services easily. People who live far away, have money problems, or are older might struggle to access these services.

Trust in e-government depends on how well it works. If the system makes mistakes, people might lose trust in it.

Advantages

E-government aims to make government services easier, faster, and cheaper for everyone. It can help people get information quickly and do things like change their address or marital status without lots of paperwork.

It also makes it easier for people to get involved in politics and elections. Businesses can also save money and time using e-government services.

E-government can make government services more open and clear. People can see what their government is doing and give their opinions through online tools.

Using e-government can also help the environment by reducing the need for paper forms and saving energy. Services can be available anytime, making it more convenient for people to get help from the government.

People generally like e-government services and find them useful, especially for staying informed about politics and voting.

Technology-specific e-government

E-government uses different technologies to help people. This includes m-government (using phones), u-government (available everywhere), and g-government (using GIS/GPS tools).

Governments can create online services to help people and businesses. For example, citizens can renew their vehicle registration online, and businesses can offer services usually handled by the government. This saves money and makes tasks easier for everyone.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are used by governments to connect with citizens. Governments can share updates and learn about people’s needs through these platforms. Some governments use tools like ListServs, RSS feeds, and mobile messaging to keep citizens informed.

Some places allow online signatures for certain documents. For example, Arizona created a system in 2012 for collecting signatures online for elections, and Boulder, Colorado, started using a similar system in 2020.

By country

Africa

Egypt

Since the election of the current president, he has spent a lot of money on sustainable energy and digitalizing the government system. Some problems are privacy, security, lack of awareness among citizens, and lack of technical standards. Egypt has about 100 million people with different backgrounds and resources. Education levels vary between cities and rural areas, even within Cairo. Compared to other Arab or Middle Eastern countries, Egypt is behind in technology. Recently, the government made a law that all businesses must use electronic receipts and all pension payments or government spending must be done through electronic transfers. This shows their effort to move from a cash-driven economy to an electronic one.

Kenya

After a change in government in December 2002, a new department was created in January 2004. This department was responsible for planning future developments.

Kenya has a high mobile phone usage, even in remote areas without traditional telephone networks. This has greatly affected the government's strategies for reaching citizens. About 70% of people own mobile phones, and mobile network operators offer services that meet citizens' needs. These services support normal and secure business activities. Recent reports show that transactions in Kenya exceed those worldwide.

Asia

Armenia

e-government started in 2004. It brings together tools and databases from agencies and provides a user-friendly online environment. It includes more than twenty services and tools. Sections are available for the first time. There are also twenty other tools, including search engines, to find government and prime minister decisions, the agenda of the next cabinet meeting, information on state purchases, the electronic tax reporting system, the online application system, the information search system, and the Electronic Signature and Electronic Visa sections. The Electronic Signature is used in several services when a user wants to submit an application or receive information. It is a universal system used by state officials and citizens.

1. This system allows companies to apply for or end licenses for various activities. It also provides other services for existing licenses.
2. The Report Acceptance System for licensed persons allows submitting reports on licensed activities.
3. The Electronic Payment System processes online payments for state fees, local fees, administrative penalties, or services from state and local government bodies. Payments can be made through various systems.
4. This system allows applying to the property registry and receiving information on landowners, plot sizes, and property legal status. The state electronic payment system is integrated into this tool. Online applications for registration of rights and restrictions and related documents can be submitted by users with a digital signature.
5. In 2016, the Ministry of Justice of Armenia developed a Legal Drafts' Database. It is for publishing drafts initiated by the government or members of Parliament. The database can be accessed through a website, allowing the public to present legal drafts, organize online discussions, and participate in the lawmaking process. The website lets users search drafts, follow progress, and see suggestions. Registered users can present suggestions and see summaries of suggestions to the draft, adopted suggestions, or reasons for not adopting them.
6. This system allows registering legal entities, such as limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, foundations, and self-employed entrepreneurs. It takes about twenty minutes to register a company. State fees can be paid through the E-Payments system. The system also allows tracking applications and searching existing companies, as well as buying full information about any company, including shareholders.
7. This system allows finding cases, searching for laws of Armenia, and following court hearing schedules.
8. This system is for public announcements. State authorities must make public announcements under certain circumstances stated by law.
9. This tool simplifies the tax declaration process for taxpayers and tax authorities. Any natural person or legal entity can submit a tax declaration using an electronic signature.
10. Online submission of patent and trademark applications using an electronic signature.
11. This application allows obtaining a visa through an online application. Visas are issued within two days.
12. This system allows verifying the user's identity and protecting the submitted application. Any resident of Armenia, whether a natural person or legal entity, can get an electronic signature and use it while applying to e-government systems.

Azerbaijan

See also:

The "e-government" framework was created to increase the convenience and efficiency of state agencies, simplify interactions between the public, businesses, and government agencies, create new citizen-official relations, and ensure transparency and free flow of information.

The main parts of the e-government infrastructure are an integrated network for state bodies, an e-government portal, an e-government gateway, a State register of information resources and systems, e-signature, e-document circulation, and an e-government data center (under preparation).

The state portal www.e-gov.az was created to help citizens use e-services from government agencies through a "single-window" principle. Through the e-government portal, citizens can use more than 140 e-services from 27 state agencies. A gateway between government agencies was also created to allow the exchange of information, and most state agencies are connected to this infrastructure. The gateway helps users use government information systems efficiently and safely, issue requests, and provide e-services, saving citizens from providing the same information or documents already in databases.

On 14 March 2018, it launched the E-government Development Center. It is a public legal entity under the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The service aims to use digital technologies, establish e-government to make state services more efficient, ensure public service availability, and improve citizens' living standards. It is a government-to-citizen type of service.

Bangladesh

The e-government web portal was created to provide easier access to various government services and information through one window. Services can now be delivered to people at their convenience, with a strong focus on transparency and accountability of public services.

China

According to rules of Fujian Province, digital transformation was first suggested in 2012, which improves the use of digital technology to reshape customer value and emphasizes customer interaction and collaboration.

The Chinese government has added "Digital Economy" to its "Government Work Report" for four years in a row from 2017, and suggested in the 14th plan to use digital transformation to drive changes in production methods, lifestyles, and governance methods overall.

Digital transformation has been raised to a national strategy from the enterprise level.

The Chinese government's official website for e-government is eGovernment.gov.cn, maintained by or .

Hong Kong

Since the handover in 1997, Hong Kong has improved technology and e-governance.

India

E-Governance initiatives and programs in India are done by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY www.meity.gov.in). The current program for e-governance of the Government of India is called "DIGITAL INDIA" (www.digitalindia.gov.in)

The Indian government has launched many e-governance initiatives, including a portal for public complaints, e-Filing of income tax, e-gazette, and their overall policy.

Indonesia

E-government in Indonesia is developing, especially in central and regional/local government offices. It was officially introduced to public administration by Presidential Directive No 6/2001 on Telematics, which states that the Indonesian government must use telematics technology to support good governance. E-government should be introduced for different purposes in government offices. As an ISO member country, Indonesia focuses on facilitating standardization activities. Facilities provided include building the National information system of standardization and the Indonesia Standardization Information Network . As of 2017, ministries, institutions, and local governments used separate e-government systems, now integrated into a central system. In 2017, the government also started programs for digitizing SMEs and the informal sector. Many cities across Indonesia, including , , , and , are implementing concepts like e-government, e-health, e-education, e-logistics, and e-procurement as priority areas.

Iran

In 2002, Iran published a report predicting that most government bodies would try to go digital as soon as possible. However, reports by UN bodies show that Iran has not met average e-government standards in recent years. In 2008, the Supreme Council of Information released a report criticizing the government for poor use of new communication technologies for administration.

In 2016, Iran launched the National Information Network and improved internet access quality and speed. In 2017, Iran introduced phase one of e-government including E-Tax, E-Customs, E-Visa, E-Government Portal, and a mobile app to modernize government services.

The Iranian government plans to introduce more phases of e-government soon.

Iraq

The Iraqi e-government citizen program was created to "stop bribery and favoritism and reduce citizens' visits to offices". The system lets citizens send requests and complaints; it can also be used for issuing identity cards, driving licenses, and passports.

Jordan

Jordan started its e-government program in 2002. Many government services are available online.

Kazakhstan

The e-government portal egov.kz was launched in 2012 as part of Kazakhstan's effort to modernize how citizens access government services and information. It offers services like education, health care, social security, job placement, tax issues, and legal help. It is now at the transformational stage. The main goal of egov.kz is to improve efficiency. For example, users can register a child's birth while also applying for benefits and putting the child on a kindergarten waiting list.
The egov.kz mobile app was named the best app in the GovTechioneers competition at the 2017 World Government Summit in Dubai. At the WSIS Prizes 2017, three projects from Kazakhstan were champions: e-Government, Open Government, and Integrated Call Center 1414.

Projects of the e-government:

• "E-licensing" information system – Created to automate licensing and permits and ensure effective and transparent information exchange between government agencies and businesses.
• "E-notary" – Developed to improve control over notary officers and optimize their work. The system registers notary activities electronically and benefits all participants of legal acts. It allows notary officers to check document authenticity, get real estate data, maintain inheritance records, and more.
• Open Government – Includes Open Data, Open RLA, Open Dialogue, Open Budgets, and Assessment of Government Agencies' Effectiveness.
• eGov Mobile mobile application – Provides public and e-government services via smartphones. Citizens can log in using a digital signature or a .
• Chatbots on Telegram, Facebook, and Vkontakte – Created to automate answers to frequently asked questions about e-government portal services.
• Smart Bridge – Aimed at simplifying organizational procedures for integrating and interacting government bodies with businesses and developing a competitive environment.
• Saqbol mobile app – Created to control the spread of , and to quickly locate infection sites using the Exposure Notification system from Google and Apple. The app anonymously tracks contacts with other devices that have the app installed and stores encrypted interaction records.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, e-government efforts are led by the government under the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) and e-government flagships, launched in mid-1996.

Electronic government aims to improve how the government works and delivers services to the people.

Myanmar

The (YCDC) is the administrative body of Yangon, the largest city and former capital of . It has 20 departments. Its headquarters was on the .

In 2003, YCDC was organized to provide e-government for Yangon City. The main goals are to provide easy access between the government and citizens online, reduce paper use, reduce the city budget, build the city's fiber ring, provide timely public information, store public data, and develop G2G, G2C, G2B, and G2E programs.

In January 2013, responsibility for e-government was split between the e-Government Administration Committee and the e-Government Processing Committee. The e-Government Administration Committee includes the Mayor of Yangon City as Chief, the General Secretary as Sub-Chief, and the 20 head of department officers as chairmen. The e-Government Processing Committee includes the Head of Public Relation and Information Department as Chief and the 20 deputy head of department officers as chairmen.

The official web-portal is .

Mandalay is the second-largest city and last royal capital of Myanmar. In 2014, Mandalay Region Government developed www.mdyregion.gov.mm to inform people about regional government activities.

Mandalay Region Government organized the e-Government Steering Committee on 23 June 2016. The committee chairman was U Sai Kyaw Zaw, Minister, Ministry of Ethnic Affairs.

On 21 July 2017, www.emandalay.gov.mm was opened by Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Prime Minister of Mandalay Region Government. The portal includes 2 e-services, 199 topics from 70 agencies. The committee is developing a Regional Data Center, to open in 2018.

Nepal

The e-government planning and framework was presented to Nepal with support from the Government of Korea (KIPA). The e-government Vision is "The Value Networking Nepal" through

• Citizen-centered service
• Transparent service
• Networked government
• Knowledge-based society

Nepal's e-government mission is to improve people's lives without discrimination, transcending regional and racial differences, and achieve socio-economic development by building a transparent government and providing quality services through ICT.

E-government practices have been slow in Nepal, but local government bodies now have ICT Volunteers working to implement e-government through ICT for Local Bodies initiatives.

Saudi Arabia

Main article:

In 2015, the launched the e-service app known as . The app lets people access over 279 government services from their smartphones, without waiting in lines or dealing with bureaucracy.

Some e-services include

1. Passport Services
2. Traffic Services
3. Expatriate Affairs Services
4. Civil Affairs Services
5. Authorizations
6. General Directorate of Prisons
7. Public Prosecution
8. Public Security
9. (Ministry of Interior)
11. General Services
12. Information Services

Another app is . It was created by the to help fight . It was first used to issue permits for people to go to work during lockdown. Now it is used for travel; entering commercial buildings, hospitals, and schools; setting vaccine appointments; and tracing.

South Korea

Announced in 2013 with "an ambitious plan to allow wider public access to government data to improve transparency", this initiative includes citizen-centered government innovation, core values of openness, sharing, communication, collaboration for all areas of governing, and customized services for individual citizens, creating jobs and supporting a creative economy.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has taken some steps to provide e-government benefits to citizens.

Thailand

To implement e-government principles, the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication Technologies of Thailand developed a plan for a modern e-services system from 2009–2014.

The next stage was a five-year digital government project, starting in 2016 and ending in 2021. This project aims to have over 80% of Thai government agencies use electronic documents for identification within five years.

There is a Unified State Portal of e-Government of Thailand, developed by the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications Technology in 2008.

In 2018, Thailand ranked 73rd in the UN e-government ranking.

United Arab Emirates

In the , the is for e-government operations.

Pakistan

Main article:

In 2014, the created the National Information Technology Board under the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom to enable a digital ecosystem for government services to citizens of Pakistan. NITB was formed from merging Pakistan Computer Bureau (PCB) and Electronic Government Directorate (EGD).

The key functions of NITB are

• Provide technical guidance for introducing e-governance in the federal government.
• Suggest efficient and cost-effective implementation of e-government programs in federal ministries/divisions.
• Assess training needs and design and implement IT programs for federal ministry/division employees.
• Regularly review e-government readiness to ensure sustainable digitization and human resource development.
• Identify areas where IT can help and suggest automation measures through Business Process Re-engineering (BPR).

NITB rolled out an e-Office Suite across various ministries. It aimed for efficiency and transparency but also to deliver efficient and cost-effective public services to Pakistan’s citizens. The suite includes five modules: Internal Communication, HR Management, Inventory & Procurement Management, Project Management, and Finance Budget.

NITB released a diagram describing the process of transforming federal agencies to e-office environments.

Europe

Further information:

Germany

E-government refers to simplifying, implementing, and supporting processes for information, communication, and transactions within and between state, municipal, and other official institutions and between these institutions and citizens or companies using digital information and communication technologies (ICT).

The legal basis in Germany for federal authorities is the Electronic Government Act (EGovG). Some states have their own e-government laws.

Poland

Discussions on e-government in Europe began with a 1994 report by the European Commission, "Europe and the Global Information Society Recommendations to the Council of Europe" (Bangemann Report). It showed the direction of developing the global information society in Europe. Since then, e-government has become a permanent part of EU issues as part of eEurope.

In Poland, 2000 marked the start of e-government. The Scientific Research Committee prepared a document based on seven expert opinions, published as "Global Information Society in the conditions of Poland's Accession to the European Union". Today it is an official document of the Scientific Research Committee and the Ministry of Communications titled "Goals and directions of development of the information society in Poland". In 2000, the Sejm also passed a resolution on building the information society, and in 2001, important acts for e-government development were passed: the Public Information Bulletin (BIP), the Act on access to public information, and the act on electronic signature, regulating e-signature. The next step was preparing the ePoland document, an action plan for developing the information society in Poland, modeled on the European eEurope plan. This document was last updated in 2002. The next version was ePolska-2006. This led to the Gateway to Poland project (a central IT system to provide administrative services for citizens and businesses electronically) and the Strategy for Informatisation of the Republic of Poland-ePoland.

Russia

Main article:

Based on laws like the Federal Law "On providing state and municipal services" (2010), the strategy for developing the Information Society in the Russian Federation (2008), the Federal target programme "Electronic Russia" (2002–2010), the State Programme "Information Society" (2010), the Procedure for developing administrative regulations (2005), and the concept of administrative reform (2006), Russia created an electronic government.

The main goal of e-government is to provide equal opportunities for all Russians, regardless of where they live or their income, and to create a more effective public administration system. E-government aims to accommodate individual citizen interests through ICTs in public policymaking.

Today, Russian e-government includes systems like

1. The united interagency interacting system for providing state and municipal services, exchanging information and data between participants, and quick approval of decisions.
2. The united system for authentication and authorization, proving the rights of e-government participants.
3. The united portal of state and municipal services, a "single window" for all government and municipal information and services. The portal is a key part of the electronic government project. It provides access to all state and municipal services online. Monthly visits to the portal range from 200,000 to 700,000. Citizens can now obtain or exchange a driver's license through this portal.
4. Head system for using electronic signatures.

Other systems are on cloud services, as cloud computing is useful for e-government.

Today, Russian e-government is used in e-governance, e-services (e-health, e-education, e-library, etc.), e-commerce, e-democracy (web-election, Russian public initiative). According to the United Nations E-Government Survey 2012, Russia became one of the 7 emerging leaders in e-government development, ninth in e-government development for large populations, and 8th in e-participation. Russia moved up 32 places in world rankings, becoming the leader in Eastern Europe. ICT evolution in Russia raised its e-government development index by 27 places.

Turkey

is the use of digital technology to improve service efficiency and effectiveness in Turkey.

As of December 2020, 700 government agencies offer 5,338 applications to 51,757,237 million users. The mobile app offers 2,850 services.

Ukraine

The main coordinating body for e-government was established in 2019. In 2020, it launched the allowing Ukrainians to use various documents (including and passports) via smartphones and access government services, with plans to make all services available by 2023.

United Kingdom

Transformational Government: Enabled by Technology, 2005, stated that "the future of public services must use technology to give citizens choice, with personalised services designed around their needs not the needs of the provider".

A major report by the House of Commons in July 2011 addressed problems by the government and found overreliance "on a small 'oligopoly' of large suppliers". The report summarized with

[D]espite a number of successful initiatives, government's overall record in developing and implementing new IT systems is appalling.

However, an initiative introduced in 2011 allows people to notify several central and local government departments about a birth or death at once, called "", and has been praised as "a fine example of innovation and best practice, a dynamic and inspiring model".

North America

Canada

Main article:

The current – the head of the federal public service – has made workplace renewal a pillar of public service renewal. The key to workplace renewal is adopting collaborative networked tools. An example is – a wiki platform for federal public servants. Other tools include GCconnex, a social networking tool, and GCforums, a discussion board system.

A report by the Auditor General of Canada: Chapter 1 Information Technology: Government On-Line 2003: "One key principle of Government On-Line is that programs and services will be transformed to reflect the needs and expectations of clients and citizens. From the government's perspective, the overall goal of the GOL initiative is full service transformation – to fundamentally change how the government operates and deliver better services to Canadians."

United States

See also: , , and

The election of as president was linked to effective use of Internet technologies during his campaign and in implementing his administration in 2009. On January 21, 2009, he signed a memorandum calling for unprecedented openness in government, asking agencies to "ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration." The memo directed the , in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Administrator of General Services (GSA), to coordinate developing specific actions implementing these principles.

President Obama's memorandum focused on increasing transparency across federal departments and agencies. By enabling public websites like recovery.gov and data.gov to share more information with Americans, the administration believed it would gain greater citizen participation.

In 2009, the U.S. federal government launched to make more government data public. With data from Data.Gov, the public can build , websites, and . Although "Gov 2.0" existed since the mid-2000s, it was the launch of Data.gov that made it "go ".

In August 2009, the launched with over a hundred datasets. Soon after, apps and websites were developed. Using feeds from DataSF.org, developers created programs to show public transportation times, hazardous material recycling locations, and crime patterns. Since DataSF.org's launch, over seventy apps have been created with San Francisco's data.

In March 2009, former was at headquarters for a discussion on technology in government. During the town hall, Newsom received a tweet about a . He turned to Twitter co-founders and and said, "Let's find a way for people to tweet their service requests directly to San Francisco's 311 center." Three months later, San Francisco launched the first Twitter 311 service, @SF311, allowing residents to tweet, text, and send photos of potholes and other requests. Working with Twitter and using the open-source platform, CoTweet made @SF311 real. The software process would normally take months, but it took less than three months. @SF311 is saving the city money. In 2011, The passed the Electronic Government Act in 2002 to promote better use of Internet and information technology, improve government services for citizens, internal operations, and citizen participation.

The Presidential Innovation Fellows program started in 2012, bringing together government experts and private-sector leaders to solve issues with a user-centric approach. was formed in early 2014 and the was launched later that year.

South America

Brazil

The Digital Government Strategy aims to fully digitize services by the end of 2022.

"The main goal of digital government is to bring citizens closer to the State. Technologies help us see each Brazilian better, including those who feel excluded, to direct policies more quickly and efficiently, especially to those who need it most," says the Digital Government secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Luís Felipe Monteiro.

International initiatives

Many global groups help governments use technology to improve services. For example, the World Bank started an eTransform Initiative with help from big tech companies. This program shares ideas to make government services better and safer for everyone.

Other groups have also made guides to help governments improve. In September 2010, OASIS began a project to create a global standard for how governments can use technology effectively. This standard includes clear steps to help make these changes work well.