End the requirement for citizens to resubmit digitized documents.

VHO - The Law on Digital Transformation, recently passed by the National Assembly, not only establishes a legal framework for the national digitalization process but also directly addresses one of the long-standing problems in administrative reform: the situation where officials and civil servants still require citizens and businesses to resubmit documents that have already been digitized and stored in the state data system.

Strictly punish officials who cause inconvenience in handling administrative procedures.

One of the key highlights of the Law on Digital Transformation is the clear definition of the responsibilities of state agencies and officials in exploiting and using digital data when handling administrative procedures. According to the spirit of the law, information and documents that have been digitized, verified, and legally stored in national or specialized databases do not need to be provided again by citizens, in any form whatsoever.

Citizens are not required to provide digitized documents in any form (Illustrative image).

In reality, although many administrative procedures have been moved online, a significant number of citizens still have to print, copy, and certify numerous documents such as citizen identification cards, residence certificates, birth certificates, business registration certificates, etc., just to "complete their files." The reason is not a lack of data, but rather that officials handling the procedures do not utilize or are unwilling to utilize the data already available on the system.

This Digital Transformation Law has established a fundamental and legally binding requirement: officials and civil servants are prohibited from requesting citizens to resubmit digitized documents that have been legally shared between state agencies. In cases of intentionally making such requests contrary to regulations, causing inconvenience, prolonging processing times, or incurring social costs, disciplinary action will be considered in accordance with regulations on public service discipline.

The new aspect is that the law does not consider this a mere operational error, but clearly defines it as an act that hinders digital transformation, undermines the effectiveness of state management, and infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and businesses. Responsibility does not stop with the individual directly handling the application, but also extends to the head of the agency if the misuse of paper documents or avoidance of using digital data occurs.

This approach shows that digital transformation is not just a matter of technological infrastructure or software, but a transformation of public service behavior. Once data is collected, managed, and verified by the State, the responsibility for accessing it rests with the state agencies, instead of shifting the burden of proof to citizens as in the old method.

Key points to note in the recently passed Digital Transformation Law.

The Law on Digital Transformation was passed in the context of Vietnam having already established many important data platforms such as the national population database, the electronic identification and authentication system, the national public service portal, and specialized databases. However, the operation of these systems has not been synchronized in recent times, leading to a paradox: the data is available, but people still have to submit paper documents.

This law clearly establishes the principle of "one declaration - multiple uses," placing data at the center of state management and public service delivery. Accordingly, state agencies are responsible for connecting, sharing, and using data to facilitate administrative procedures, instead of requiring citizens to re-submit information that already exists in the system.

Notably, the law does not consider data sharing as an encouragement, but rather defines it as a legal obligation of state agencies. The practice of "keeping data private," "hoarding information," or citing technical reasons to avoid sharing data will no longer be compatible with the new legal framework. Failure to share or utilize digital data may become grounds for considering the responsibility of relevant agencies, units, and individuals.

Alongside the requirement for data exploitation, the Law on Digital Transformation also sets out strict principles regarding the protection of personal data and information security. Citizens are guaranteed the right to control their personal information in the digital environment, while state agencies are responsible for using data for the right purposes and within their authority, avoiding misuse or leakage of information.

The law also emphasizes the role of digital competence among officials and civil servants. Lack of proficiency in systems, failure to use online public services, or the deliberate maintenance of manual processes will no longer be considered objective difficulties. In the context of digital transformation becoming a mandatory requirement, digital competence is considered an important criterion in evaluating the performance of officials.

From the perspective of citizens and businesses, the Law on Digital Transformation is expected to gradually end the situation of "half-hearted digitalization," where electronic documents are merely a formality, while paper documents still play a decisive role. When the new regulations are strictly enforced, citizens will no longer have to carry a stack of paper documents to prove information that the State already holds.

In the long term, the law lays the groundwork for shifting the relationship between the State and citizens from a "request-and-grant" model to a data-driven service model. When data is properly utilized, responsibilities are clearly defined, and public service discipline is tightened, digital transformation will truly become substantive, driving administrative reform and improving national governance efficiency.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/nhip-song-so/cham-dut-yeu-cau-nguoi-dan-nop-lai-giay-to-da-so-hoa-188300.html