Wednesday, December 29, 2004

The E-Republic

Two years ago Estonia introduced an optional smart ID card that is making documents and money obsolete in a growing range of public and private transactions. An Estonian can use it instead of a passport to travel within the EU, to get on the bus and subway and to file taxes with a card reader attached to his computer (refunds in five days for the electronic filers, several months for the paper filers).

"I rarely sign pieces of paper anymore," says Sten Hansson, the information adviser to the Estonian state chancellery. Hansson is 31 now and has already served in government for ten years. Siim Raie, the 27-year-old director of Estonia's chamber of commerce, just took out a personal home loan without picking up a pen. But this is not just a demographic revolution. Hansson's 84-year-old grandfather just got his smart card.

An interesting article about wired democracy in Estonia, from Forbes Magazine. Read the whole thing.

Hat tip: Leopoldo

No comments: