Digital citizenship and its visible benefits.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, digital citizens, digital society, and digital government are the three pillars for economic development and for placing the country among the leaders in cybersecurity.

Because his ID card was about to expire, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Anh, residing in Linh Xuan ward, Ho Chi Minh City, recently accessed the VNeID application to schedule an appointment to renew his ID card at the Ho Chi Minh City Police headquarters.

Prerequisites

On the scheduled date, Mr. Anh arrived to complete the procedures, including fingerprinting and facial photography. The process was quick, and in less than three weeks, he received his new identity card.

The young man said that since using VNeID, everything has become much more convenient. When he goes out, he doesn't need to carry many documents; his phone is enough because his driver's license, health insurance, vehicle registration, etc., are all integrated into VNeID.

"When I go to the office for administrative procedures or medical check-ups, I scan my VNeID and the information appears quickly and clearly. Most importantly, the data is managed uniformly, so I don't have to worry about losing documents like before," said Mr. Anh.

VNeID has long been a familiar application to many people. Photo: ANH VU

The VNeID that Mr. Anh mentioned is the national identification application. After evaluating the effectiveness of this application, the Ministry of Public Security is currently seeking public opinion on the draft Government Resolution on the development of digital citizens. The draft is open for comments until December 31st and will be posted on the Ministry of Public Security's electronic information portal.

In the draft, the Ministry of Public Security clearly stipulates the conditions for becoming a digital citizen: individuals must be granted an electronic identification account on the national identification application (VNeID); be able to use public services and digital services safely and legally; fulfill the responsibilities of a digital citizen; and have been ranked as a digital citizen.

Many benefits

The Ministry of Public Security stated that the comprehensive development of digital citizens is a necessary requirement, consistent with the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State. In this context, digital citizens, linked with a digital society and a digital government, become three pillars for economic development, positioning the country among the leaders in cybersecurity, data security, and data protection.

The rights of "digital citizens" include owning and managing a digital identity; accessing, using, and benefiting from digital services… In particular, when transacting through the national identification application VNeID, digital citizens will be eligible for tax exemptions and reductions, as well as registration fees and lump-sum taxes.

VNeID is also proposed to be expanded into a "super app" with unlimited features, including providing a "national e-wallet" and digital payment services; providing secure "personal digital signatures"; providing a personal data repository; assigning official "email addresses" to each citizen; and developing a "social network".

According to the Ministry of Public Security, social networks developed by private enterprises have given rise to the problem of fake accounts, fake news, and scams. Meanwhile, the government lacks an official and two-way communication channel for policy communication and listening to feedback. Therefore, it is necessary to create a social network where 100% of users have their identities absolutely verified (via VNeID). This would also be an official channel for citizens to provide feedback and criticism, and for government agencies to report and address the root causes of the fake news problem.

A major shift in thinking.

Mr. Dinh Hoang Kien, founder of VedaX Co., Ltd., views the proposal to upgrade VNeID as a national digital super-platform as a groundbreaking step, unprecedented in the public sector. The most noteworthy aspect of the proposal lies not only in its technology but also in the shift in management thinking, moving from "mandatory management" to "service-encouragement".

"This approach is very similar to how businesses think about attracting users. To get users to participate, their interests must be prioritized. Models like VinID or other digital ecosystems in the private sector have been doing this for a long time. Now that the public sector is adopting it, that's very bold," Mr. Kien commented.

According to Mr. Kien, this proposal represents a major shift in governance thinking. The state is no longer "forcing" but "granting benefits," thereby encouraging people to participate in the digital space more proactively. Although implementation will certainly involve an initial trial and period of unfamiliarity, this is a necessary and long-term direction.

A representative from a technology company in Ho Chi Minh City assessed that VNeID possesses the advantage of having the highest level of reliability in electronic identification, linked to citizens' original data. This is the "core" of all super apps, because all digital services from finance, healthcare, education to commerce require identity verification.

"If VNeID can combine the roles of identification, platform, and service ecosystem, then this application will not only be a management tool but could become the 'backbone' of Vietnam's digital economy and digital society in the next 10-20 years," this representative shared.

Strategy of many governments

The shift from standalone management applications to a national super-platform model is becoming a central strategy for many advanced governments. For example, China is building a national government service platform that acts as a massive data center connecting the central government with local governments.

According to the South China Morning Post, instead of forcing people to learn how to use a completely new app with an unfamiliar interface, the Chinese government has integrated public services (such as tax payment, household registration, and healthcare) as "mini-programs" directly into popular commercial super-apps like WeChat and Alipay.

In Singapore, the country developed the LifeSG super app based on the "Life Journey" philosophy. Public services are grouped according to significant life events such as childbirth, going to school, finding a job, or retirement.

For example, when a family welcomes a new member, the app automatically suggests an integrated service package that includes birth registration, child allowance application, and vaccination registration all at the same time. This approach shifts the app's role from "a government management tool" to "a valuable assistant for citizens."

Xuan Mai

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cong-dan-so-va-nhung-loi-ich-thay-ro-196251222221705279.htm