唐鳳政委辦公室與國發會從該年的 OGP Global Summit（暫譯：開放政府夥伴聯盟全球高峰會）回國後，開始著手規劃秉持透明、參與、課責 （accountability）、涵容（inclusion）四大宗旨的「國家行動方案」，致力讓臺灣政府跟進國際組織腳步逐步開放，並創造民間參與政策擬定施行各階段的契機，將原本單向聽取或甚至對立局面，轉為共存共榮、共同協商議政的合作夥伴關係。
Following the release of previous part, this article will look at the non-mandatory implementation of digital and mobile ID via smart devices in Singapore and South Korea, as well as the transition to the use of eIDs in Taiwan. By comparing and contrasting the digital ID experiences in these Asian countries, we hope to identify areas that Taiwan can learn from to improve its digital ID experience when it is rolled out next year.
Non-Mandatory Digital/ Mobile ID via Smart Devices: Singapore and South Korea
Singapore’s National Digital Identity Initiative has seen the launching of the Singapore Personal Access (SingPass) Mobile application in 2018. The SingPass Mobile app, which users may access via a 6-digit passcode or biometrically through fingerprint or facial recognition, is a one-stop portal that allows users to access various government services such as MyTax, Singapore’s online tax portal.
Following the release of previous article in Taiwan, this one will have a look at the non-mandatory digital ID in Japan, and mandatory myKad in Malaysia.
※ About the description of MyKad and driver’s license, the content had been corrected on January 12, 2021.
Non-mandatory Digital ID Cards: My Number Card in Japan
All residents in Japan including foreign nationals are issued a unique 12-digit Social Security and Tax Number affectionately known as ‘My Number’. Residents may request for a physical My Number Card to access various online administrative services, such as Japan’s online tax portal e-Tax. The card contains photo identification and an IC chip for online identification.
The digital revolution in the last half-decade has made digital life a new norm, and many countries are joining a growing number of people in transitioning into a ‘walletless’ future. First there was contactless payment, which allows users to pay through their mobile devices. Now, electronic and digital forms of identification are taking the world by storm. Gone are the days where we had to fumble through card after card to finally reach for the right one. Now, all our essential information is available at our fingertips with just a single card or smart device in hand.
Taiwan was ranked as the high quality Open Data government in 2015 and 2016 by “Global Open Data Index". However, since than, there is no further development and many open data sets are still lack of function. This October, Taiwan National Development Council suddenly announced the draft of “Open Data Act" is under discussion. Before we finally step into next stage, let us review what is really going on when citizen request the data from government.
In a day with nice weather, the Nanfang’ ao Bridge crumbles without warning. In fact, people do not know if the bridges they walk on daily are safe or not, since the maintenance records has not ever been revealed before. (Source of the photo: Military News Agency, Ministry of National Defense)
The public only realized that there was only one maintenance record of the Nanfang’ ao Bridge after the bridge crumbled on October 1, 2019. Moreover, the maintenance record was only partial, the maintenance work was incomplete, and the information was incorrect, either.
Why did the relevant information remain unobserved for so long? The Ministry of Transportation and Communications established the “Taiwan Bridge Management System (TBMS)” right after Gaoping Bridge crumbled as a result of illegal gravel mining and typhoon slamming in 2001. Although the related agencies are required to upload the maintenance records of all bridges in accordance to the system, the information has not been opened to the public, which makes it unable to be supervised by the public. People also have no idea about the safety of the bridges they are walking on daily.
Taiwan is always considered by its people as an open and democratic society. After the “Freedom of Government Information Law” has been executed for fourteen years, and Taiwan has retained top spot in “Global Open Data Index” two times in a row in 2015 and 2016, which all have become one of the prides of Taiwan. However, , the sensitive zone of significant government information that should be opened to the public remains in the dark side of this pride.
Taiwan was ranked as the high quality Open Data government in 2015 and 2016 by “Global Open Data Index". However, since than, there is no further development and many open data sets are still lack of function. This October, Taiwan National Development Council suddenly announced the draft of “Open Data Act" is under discussion. Before we finally step into next stage, let us review what is really going on about Open Data in Taiwan in historical case and environmental case.
What problems can we solve by “obtaining information”? Or what role does it play in human life? In addition to simply meeting the human need to gain knowledge, access to information is helpful for our judgment in decision-making, good for understanding specific things, and conducive to reduce human fear in the face of the unknown.
Intelligent humans can keep away from disasters by learning astronomy, meteorology, and geographical environment, and improve hunting techniques, food collection and even medical behavior by comprehending animal and plant ecology. Intelligent humans develop various communication methods to disseminate information or knowledge, learn abstract thinking, and establish complex systems of knowledge and culture, which has created the world of mankind today.
Taiwan was ranked as the high quality Open Data government in 2015 and 2016 by “Global Open Data Index". However, since than, there is no further development and many open data sets are still lack of function. This October, Taiwan National Development Council suddenly announced the draft of “Open Data Act" is under discussion. Before we finally step into next stage, let us review what is really going on about Open Data in Taiwan in historical case and environmental case.
After the overhaul of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act in 2016, citizen participation finally became more extensive. The amendment of the law expected that experts from the private sector can make up for the government’s manpower gap in the investigation and protection of cultural heritage. As with the Open Government policy, more and more aged historical materials are digitized and open to the public, and the preservation movement of private monuments has flourished everywhere. Concerning the “Red Leaf Garden” (Chen Mao-tong Residence) case, a recent occurrence of cultural heritage dispute, how did the reporter find the key information in the scattered historical materials to rediscover the history of this house almost 80 years ago? How can we figure out a more open and fair solution in the dispute regarding the certification of historic buildings in time to come?
OCF Lab 開放實驗室 