7 - Targeted Strategic Initiatives
7.1 Digital Identity Management Initiative
Digital identity management has become of
great importance in the internet economy.
In the mid-nineties, the ability to access
information via internet was considered a
revolutionary transition. Very quickly, the
internet changed from a one side posting
tool to a two way platform providing personal
services, e-commerce, e-government services
and other various and different interactive such
as e-health, e-education and social networks.
Increasingly providing and spreading services
online in daily life has radically changed our
economies and societies, making the provision
of these services a must for building the
internet economy.
On the other hand, the Egyptian government
has been increasingly concerned with
enhancing resources, encouraging investments,
rationalizing expenditures and distributing
the basic resources in an equitable and fair
manner. ICT networks play a basic role in this
context, since communication networks and
the internet are part of the country’s economic
infrastructure, especially in banking services,
e-commerce, trading and financing system.
Communication networks and IT also play, on
the political, economic and social levels, a
major role affecting citizens’ daily life through
different applications such as e-government,
e-voting, education and health services, etc…
Hence, a pressing need appeared for
developing a national project for managing the
digital identity based on a clear and integrated
strategy. Indeed, the management of the digital
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identity with its various levels is considered one
of the most important processes for securing
and organizing transactions electronically. This
initiative involves developing the infrastructure,
technologies and policies required to create,
identify, manage and coordinate the ownership,
use and protection of personal information,
including a framework to define digital identity
data for government information systems and
individuals and entities executing transactions
via the internet.
Description:
Digital identity management, at its different
levels, is considered one of the most important
operations for regulating and securing
cyberspace transactions. Digital identity
consists of all credentials and attributes
related to an individual on the internet,
such as the computer IP address, the email
address, passwords, user name or nickname
used in chatting rooms and forums, electronic
account on websites that require a registered
account for participation and activities. It also
includes bank account numbers authorizing
the person to deal with his/her bank account
electronically through the bank’s website on
the Internet, transfer of funds, services and
billing. It also includes e- commerce, where
users can purchase via the internet using
credit cards, voting, health information and
data. All these are considered examples of
electronic identity whose importance has
increased with the penetration and expansion
of internet access. Digital identity management
for facilities, banking sector, individuals and
private sector, is considered one of the most
important mechanisms required for regulating
transactions, rationalizing consumption, and
increasing the efficiency of availing services
which require careful coordination at the
national level.
The primary objectives of this initiative are:
Applying the highest level of security in the
collection, use and storage of documents
containing personal data, ensuring that
unnecessary documents are removed from
storage in an appropriate manner and that
information retrieval is fast and efficient
Providing citizens with electronic cards,
containing accurate personal and biometric
information, including electronic signature,
to facilitate and secure transactions with
government authorities
Increasing the ease and speed of checking
user data to raise performance in the
provision of government services
Improving the quality of services provided
to citizens through shared use of digital
identity applications and records by various
institutions
Improving and integrating operations systems
for various government service providers to
ensure efficient use of resources, eliminate
repetition of routine procedures, and focus on
raising service quality
Helping organizations control and secure
the flow of information with partners and
customers, and to cooperate with each other,
thereby promoting economic growth
Promoting use of digital identity applications
to facilitate the provision and use of local,
regional and international services by
institutions and individuals, saving time,
effort and money
Reducing threats to data security and privacy
by limiting the amount of data circulated
between institutions to that which is essential
Facilitating the collection of accurate statistics
and the formulation of plans for all sectors of
the economy
Supporting all sectors of the economy through
the exchange and updating of information
via a central source
Encouraging innovation in the market,
the creation of new job opportunities and
increasing foreign trade
Facilitating an effective response and
the ability to adapt to internet threats by
increasing security on the internet, reducing
cybercrime, improving the safety of networks
and systems, raising overall safety levels for
consumers and promoting confidence in the
internet