Blockchain Solutions for E-Government
Tags: Decentralized, Technology, Cryptography, Governance, Blockchain

A blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, which are linked together using cryptography. Blockchain is designed in a way that it resists change. It can be summarized as an open distributed ledger that can record transactions among parties efficiently that can be verified and is permanent. Blockchains are decentralized that makes them less prone to failure. There are lesser risks of fraud transactions. The blockchain ledger is transparent and gives users the authority over their property. Being distributed, irreversible, and more secure, blockchain has virtually everything that can replace our common practices and the way we manage, store, and use data for our interest.

Considering the usability and vast acceptance of blockchain, it has made clear standing in almost all the fields. It is standing high in our daily lives and is being used in all sectors from video gaming to banking and even health care management systems. However, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the most important and marking use of this technology is in E-Government. Saying so because it plays a vital role in simplifying things and making them transparent for the user or public in the case.

E-government is the use of technology to provide better services to citizens. It is a way for citizens to assess their governments and institutions in a better and more efficient way with transparency. In addition, for the government, it is a way to govern and serve the citizens in a better way with ease and accountability.

All these things were initiated with the use of cryptocurrency but are not only bound to be used in the financial terms. It has been used and is being used in many other fields too. To account, the revolutionary impact of blockchain on e-governments, the following are some markdowns,

Better communication

Blockchain has made communication easier and efficient. It has revolutionized G2G (government to government), G2C (government to citizen), C2G (citizen to government), G2E (government to employee), and G2B (government to business) communications, making them more fashioned and through proper channels. Therefore, it is easy for governments to keep in touch with stakeholders and easier for stakeholders to get in touch with the governments as it was a hell of a mess. Blockchain is enabling citizens to get directly in touch with the governments and concerned institutions for their assistance and help.

Better surveillance

E-government, in cooperation with blockchain technology, is assuring us a better and secure life. Law-making institutions are now enabled with the capability to keep an eye on everyone without even being noticed or making someone uncomfortable. Better tracking of criminals, better predictions with the help of artificially intelligent decision support systems, and reward systems for good practices are making it more secure and liveable for the citizens. This results in citizen satisfaction rates.

Better delivery and check system

Blockchain technology being irreversible and fully transparent has empowered citizens to keep an eye on what the government is doing and how things are going in the country. Citizens can transparently see what is going on in their tax money and how the power is being utilized. No authority can temper the data and mislead citizens into false decisions when the time comes for them to choose the government.

Better voting system

Blockchain technology can revolutionize the way we vote and the way a ballet works. A seamless, decentralized, secured, and trusted voting system is the state of the art system we can build using the technology. This system ensures NO RIGGING, transparent results without any pressure and in no time. Results will be just ready as the voting time ends. There can be no more pure elections than those run on this system.

Citizens’ identity

One of the main problems of governments is bogus identities and fraud. E-governments tried to encounter this problem using digitization but still, it is possible to breach the classical systems. Luckily! Blockchain technology has the cure. Blockchain backed systems can provide a digital identity. It cannot be corrupted, fabricated, or scammed. Single identity can be used for all the systems, for example, the bank account or the utility services or any kind of license. It is also easier and efficient for governments to track, help, and provide services to their citizens at their ease too. With such digital identities, it is also safe for citizens as their data is on private ledgers and cannot be accessed by unauthorized persons.

More transaction transparency

Being permanent and immutable, blockchain provides a better and more efficient way to track financial transactions. It also improves the techniques that are used to tackle financial frauds. No one can deny their transactions as all the transactions are on the name of the initiator and are immutable. This proves the initiator guilty of any kind of misdeed. Every penny can be tracked and get rid of illegal money laundering. Moreover, an efficient money trail is attached to their owners too.

Byzantine problem

Same as the system can track transactions, it can also track money and get rid of the byzantine problem i.e. multiple uses of the same money. A blockchain system ensures the rid of the byzantine problem, unlike classical systems that are unable to track money properly. Blockchain systems are more secured so are difficult to corrupt and hack into the system. Since each and every penny in the system is tracked and cannot be used multiple times and creates fuss about the byzantine problem.

Corruption

Blockchain systems, tracking both money and transactions, are more likely to eradicate potential chances of corruption as the culprit is now in hand and is more accessible to the authorities. Immutability and security make it more difficult for culprits to avoid the consequences. In addition, helps the security agencies to catch the criminals.

Criminal recording

State of the art criminal record systems are being proposed and designed using blockchain technology. The system tracks an efficient record of criminals and helps the law-making institutions to track, screen, and arrest criminals in virtually no time. These systems can scan on airports, seaports, and all the entrances of an area and filter out malicious persons based upon their previous records.

Better e-visa

E-visa systems on revolutionary technology can change the way people get visas and travel the world. Blockchain systems can track all the records of the citizens in minutes. They let the authorities know their past activities whether they were good or bad. It also lets them make a data-backed result, accepting or rejecting the visa applications. Moreover, the citizens can also be tracked anywhere in the world as the systems would be interconnected via G2G communications, that are allowed by the governments itself.

Land-marking system

The illegal arrogation of land and properties can be minimized and eventually eradicated by these kinds of systems as there is no single authority. Moreover, the systems are decentralized, secured, and backed up so, no evil can prevail in the environment, and culprits will be tracked and punished in the meantime.

There are many other uses of blockchain systems that can change the way people live and the way governments serve the citizens. These systems are not only proposed but are being run and influencing the lives of millions. Some of the common examples are:

Dubai

Dubai is one of the first countries to adopt blockchain technology for good governance and deliver its citizens. It has been in the game since the time when it wasn’t so common as of now.

Dubai is on its goal to be the first full-fledged blockchain-backed city by 2021, and we can see the progress to their goal by now. With the help of the private and public sector and with the involvement of all the stakeholders, be it citizens or government or businesses or firms, they planned the Smart City. Apart from using blockchain for voting and community building, they made 3 goals that are almost completed by now.

Going paperless was one of the goals that seemed impossible as scanning and storing millions of papers is not a child’s play. However, Dubai proved everyone wrong and is just about to accomplish their goal. It is investing millions in going paperless. All the previous records, be it bills or challans or any other documents, are now being digitized and all this system is backed by blockchain technology.

Adopting Blockchain technology Dubai stands to unlock 5.5 billion dirhams in savings annually in document processing alone — equal to the one Burj Khalifa’s worth of value every year. — Smart Dubai

Smart City University in cooperation with Dubai Future Foundation is a decentralized learning platform that aims at the development of digital skills. Smart City University aims to increase the digitally skilled talent by 10 percent in UAE by the end of 2020 and even more in upcoming years. It’s a platform that even allows users to upload their own courses, tutorials, and certification that others can avail.

The blockchain platform as a service (BPaaS) is the third and most impactful idea proposed for the smart city. It is the digital identity for all the residents of the country be it citizens or other workers all their identities are to be digitized over blockchain technology. All the e-visas are now on blockchain and are more efficient to track and issue more visas and work permits. This system is all scalable and cost-efficient and is capable of pay as you go service that means one can pay just by their identity and all this in just in seconds with ease and no hassle of lines and stuff.

Egypt

Egypt is also looking to get into blockchain and take the most out of it. Just months back Egypt’s first blockchain venture started as the Egypt National Bank turned digital with blockchain technology to boost the remittance business that is around $600 billion industry. Egypt is the fifth largest country in terms of remittances worldwide with $24.6 billion (2019) standing next to India, China, Mexico, Philippines. Remittances are the money or other valuables sent by the migrants to their families and according to the World Bank, this is going to cross 600 billion by the end of 2020. The national bank is now a part of the ripple net network, which incorporates more than 300 banks worldwide which means Egyptians can send and receive money anywhere in the world just in seconds, all thanks to the GOAT blockchain.

European Union

European cooperation has a holistic approach towards blockchain. It is aiming to put Europe at the forefront of blockchain technology. EU allies are joining the initiative one after another and growing exponentially.

The European Commission has also launched the Blockchain Observatory and Forum with the full support of the European parliament. It will highlight key developments of blockchain technology, promoting European actors and prospects, and re-enforcing European engagement in the worldwide blockchain activities, involving multiple stakeholders. This initiative will surely help Europe to engage in new opportunities, build expertise, and workforce and appear as a leader in technology. The Blockchain Observatory will be gathering information, monitoring and analyzing trends, addressing challenges and problems, and exploring more socioeconomic potential gateways for blockchain.

Malaysia

Malaysia is using blockchain technology for surveillance via drones and satellites. These drones, satellites, and other sensors send real-time data to end-users for considerable actions. The most important feature of this system is that it sends an integrated display of the National Security Surveillance Picture to authorities informing potential threats so that it can be eradicated.

Conclusion

In conclusion, blockchain technology is a revolution that can transform the way we live in this world, do our routine businesses, and play our part in society. It is going to transform the way we pay, visit different parts of the world, learn, teach, and virtually everything. These ideas are not just ideas but are also implemented in different parts of the world as discussed. Moreover, it has shown a more brilliant effect than predicted and is still surprising us every day. My suggestion is to adopt the new technology as soon as possible to get the most out of it.

Blockchain is the technology from the future and the earlier we accept it the better it is for us to emerge as a leader with more opportunities for us. We should learn from others, keep on their success paths, and try to avoid the mistakes they have made. We have shown efforts to get into the stream but it is not enough as the trends are changing in just a matter of days and we should really take it as a serious business.