7 - Targeted Strategic Initiatives 7.1 Digital Identity Management Initiative Digital identity management has become of great importance in the internet economy. In the mid-nineties, the ability to access information via internet was considered a revolutionary transition. Very quickly, the internet changed from a one side posting tool to a two way platform providing personal services, e-commerce, e-government services and other various and different interactive such as e-health, e-education and social networks. Increasingly providing and spreading services online in daily life has radically changed our economies and societies, making the provision of these services a must for building the internet economy. On the other hand, the Egyptian government has been increasingly concerned with enhancing resources, encouraging investments, rationalizing expenditures and distributing the basic resources in an equitable and fair manner. ICT networks play a basic role in this context, since communication networks and the internet are part of the country’s economic infrastructure, especially in banking services, e-commerce, trading and financing system. Communication networks and IT also play, on the political, economic and social levels, a major role affecting citizens’ daily life through different applications such as e-government, e-voting, education and health services, etc… Hence, a pressing need appeared for developing a national project for managing the digital identity based on a clear and integrated strategy. Indeed, the management of the digital 60 61 identity with its various levels is considered one of the most important processes for securing and organizing transactions electronically. This initiative involves developing the infrastructure, technologies and policies required to create, identify, manage and coordinate the ownership, use and protection of personal information, including a framework to define digital identity data for government information systems and individuals and entities executing transactions via the internet. Description: Digital identity management, at its different levels, is considered one of the most important operations for regulating and securing cyberspace transactions. Digital identity consists of all credentials and attributes related to an individual on the internet, such as the computer IP address, the email address, passwords, user name or nickname used in chatting rooms and forums, electronic account on websites that require a registered account for participation and activities. It also includes bank account numbers authorizing the person to deal with his/her bank account electronically through the bank’s website on the Internet, transfer of funds, services and billing. It also includes e- commerce, where users can purchase via the internet using credit cards, voting, health information and data. All these are considered examples of electronic identity whose importance has increased with the penetration and expansion of internet access. Digital identity management for facilities, banking sector, individuals and private sector, is considered one of the most important mechanisms required for regulating transactions, rationalizing consumption, and increasing the efficiency of availing services which require careful coordination at the national level. The primary objectives of this initiative are: Applying the highest level of security in the collection, use and storage of documents containing personal data, ensuring that unnecessary documents are removed from storage in an appropriate manner and that information retrieval is fast and efficient Providing citizens with electronic cards, containing accurate personal and biometric information, including electronic signature, to facilitate and secure transactions with government authorities Increasing the ease and speed of checking user data to raise performance in the provision of government services Improving the quality of services provided to citizens through shared use of digital identity applications and records by various institutions Improving and integrating operations systems for various government service providers to ensure efficient use of resources, eliminate repetition of routine procedures, and focus on raising service quality Helping organizations control and secure the flow of information with partners and customers, and to cooperate with each other, thereby promoting economic growth Promoting use of digital identity applications to facilitate the provision and use of local, regional and international services by institutions and individuals, saving time, effort and money Reducing threats to data security and privacy by limiting the amount of data circulated between institutions to that which is essential Facilitating the collection of accurate statistics and the formulation of plans for all sectors of the economy Supporting all sectors of the economy through the exchange and updating of information via a central source Encouraging innovation in the market, the creation of new job opportunities and increasing foreign trade Facilitating an effective response and the ability to adapt to internet threats by increasing security on the internet, reducing cybercrime, improving the safety of networks and systems, raising overall safety levels for consumers and promoting confidence in the internet