Identity in the age of social networks and digitalisation

Abstract

There is increasing pressure in public administration to expand eGovernment offerings and to use other digital technologies in order to offer services in a more transparent and citizen-friendly manner. The law to improve online access to administrative services (Onlinezugangsgesetz - OZG) obliges the federal, state and local governments to realize more administrative services digitally by the end of 2022.

Electronic services require user registrations and the creation of electronic identities for users.

Considerations of efficient and secure user registration, recognition and transparent presentation of activities and transactions are desirable and necessary. For example, applications must be legally assignable to an applicant.

In public administration, security, availability and authenticity play a major role alongside other security objectives. In the analogous area, activities and decisions can be verified by means of forms, applications and signatures. This proof must be preserved during digitisation. Therefore, digital identities and data security must be given attention when planning new eServices and web offers.

Furthermore, the factor of resource scarcity plays an important role in such considerations. Internally, new ways of collaboration, information exchange and knowledge management must be tested in order to cope with increasing demands and to maintain or improve employee motivation despite increasing workloads.

This article analyses current technologies and their transferability to public administration applications.