Designing e-Government for the Poor - Tanzania Development ...

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Conducive policy environment for e-government
• No preferences for specific technology solutions or platforms
• Technology neutrality funding for research and development
• Interoperability between hardware and software
• Key component of e-government initiatives
• Promotes choice, competition and innovation
Mr. Chong gave the example of Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong,
China adopted open standards and an interoperability framework to assist the
Government in defining interfaces between their applications, and developing
a common Chinese language interface. The open standards policy and
interoperability created a citizen-centric seamless e-government in which the
government worked as a single organization with seamless flow of information
across different government departments. As a result, the Hong Kong,
China citizen can go to the Government web site to find a job, take part in
the electronic tendering system, or book a registration date for marriage.
Policies that maintain a secure online environment are the third
category of policies that are key components of e-government initiatives.
Security requires protection of digital commerce, network security, and
intellectual property regulations. Digital commerce is threatened by spam,
convergence of hacking communities, and other online fraud. Network
security is guaranteed through cybercrime legislation.
The following are steps taken to secure digital commerce:
• Technology and training
• Industry self regulation through sharing of information on
wrongdoers
• Legislation and policy initiatives including criminal deterrence
• Enforcement
The legal framework established by the 2001 Council of Europe
Convention on cybercrime, and approved by APEC, provides measures to
monitor cybercrime. A secure online environment also requires encryption
and authentication. Encryption improves online security and increases consumer
confidence. For example, in Hong Kong, China, the Electronics
Transaction Ordinance of 2000 provided a clear and conducive legal
framework in which electronic records and digital signatures are given the
same legal status as paper counterparts. The ordinance also lays the
framework for voluntary recognition scheme for certification authorities to
operate freely.
Mr. Chong said that e-government systems need to provide protection
of personal information or privacy by conforming to international
treaties, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development