Digitalization – the way ahead

TOOMAS LUKK, Ambassador, Republic of Estonia

Fully integrated public services and full compliance with data privacy rules is the way to build a secure and broadbased digital society.

The coronavirus has accelerated the application of digital technologies. Big jumps in digital activity have been reported in countries that have imposed the strictest lockdowns. Remote working, online teaching, medical assistance, commerce and teleconferencing have become a “new normal”. There are no proven guidelines as to how to act in these trying times. Digital infrastructure, however, allows us to observe the most important treatment available today – social distancing.

The Global Statshot Report of April 2020 suggests that the world’s digital behaviour has changed dramatically over the first three months of 2020. Billions of people have turned to online devices to help them cope with life and work under lockdowns. Today 4.57 billion people use the internet, which represents an increase of 7 percent over the same time last year. The number of social media users has grown even faster, reaching 3.81 billion. The number of mobile phone users has grown by 128 million over the past twelve months and approximately two-thirds of the world’s total population now uses a mobile phone.

Estonia started building its information society in the 1990s, at a time when most people did not have access to the internet. Today, the spread of wireless technologies and the development of Estonia’s e- Governance ecosystems has ensured the continuity and sustainability of the public sector services for citizens and private enterprises and has had a tangible impact on quality of life.

There are many examples of services that could be adopted by Canada. A fully automated unemployment insurance registry allows citizens to apply for unemployment benefits or allowances, confirmed by a digital stamp, which is legally equal to that of a physical signature. An electronic fisheries management systems provides data on fishing opportunities, licenses, ensuring contact-free and sustainable fishing and simplified fishing surveillance. Many other smart applications are related to health, education, security, transport and other sectors.

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