Information Policy

1,000,000 e-passports in 5 months for French citizens

On April 13, 2006 France’s first e-passports were issued using Gemalto technology with its highly secure operating system with encryption algorithms that work on a contactless chip incorporated into the passport’s cover. The roll out is now a steady 200,000 to 300,000 passports per month, probably one of the most important project worldwide.

One million electronic passports were issued successfully at the end of September within the record timeframe of 5 months: a world first for the industry.

http://www.worldegovforum.com/article.php3?id_article=1094

Global Freedom of Information Survey

Privacy International released on 20 September 2006 a comprehensive review of Freedom of Information (FOI) Laws and practices in nearly 70 countries around the world, including almost 40 countries from Europe

Titled "Freedom of Information Around the World 2006 Global Survey of Access to Government Information Laws", the survey draws attention to the growing movement around the world to adopt FOI laws. In just the past two years, over a dozen countries have adopted new laws and decrees, while dozens more are considering proposals. Important international treaties such as the UN Convention Against Corruption have also gone into force. These laws are being used to fight corruption, make government bodies accountable and promote social and human rights.

The survey also highlights that many problems still exist such as poorly drafted laws, lax implementation and an ongoing culture of secrecy in many countries. There are also dangers in backsliding such as in Ireland where the imposition of onerous fees has significantly reduced use of the law and in the United Kingdom where a similar proposal is being considered. New laws promoting secrecy in the global war on terror have also undercut access.

The report is being released just prior to the Annual International Right to Know Day on 28 September. Advocates in dozens of countries will be holding events celebrating the day.

An interactive version of the survey in conjunction with freedominfo.org and the Open Society Justice Institute will be released shortly.

Freedom of Information Around the World 2006 Global Survey of Access to Government Information Laws (20.09.2006) http://www.privacyinternational.org/foi/survey

Events on Annual International Right to Know Day - 28 September 2006 http://www.foiadvocates.net/map2006.php

AZ: 3,000 national domain names registered in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Domain Registration held a workshop on National Domain Names and Prospects of Internet. 3,000 domains have been registered in .az in the 13 years, with more domains registered in neighbouring countries in the region, but this is due to the "former Communication and Information Technologies Ministry didn’t allow the development of Internet in Azerbaijan."

http://today.az/news/society/30503.html

The Evolution of Wireless

In today's culture, wireless rules. WiFi-enabled laptops easily connect to Internet hotspots, prevalent in most cities, and cell phones are virtually ubiquitous. But while much of the technology in these devices is advanced, the radio chips that transmit and receive those wireless signals are, for the most part, still based on an older, highly inflexible model: they're hardwire

http://www.technologyreview.com/printer_friendly_article.aspx?id=17547

DE: eGovernment 2.0 launched

Four main points for action between now and 2010 are set out in Germany’s federal eGovernment 2.0 programme, launched on 13 September. A new portal for “innovative administration” went live the same day.

eGovernment 2.0 is based on the eGovernment action plan in the EU’s i2010 inititiave, as well as on experience with Germany’s own BundOnline 2005 and Deutschland-Online. All federal bodies will be following the programme, which will be coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior. The aim is to make eGovernment an integral part of administrative innovation.

The government has identified four points for targeted action between now and 2010:

• Portfolio: a needs-oriented qualitative and quantitative expansion of the federal eGovernment services on offer
• Process chain: electronic co-operation between business and public administrations via a joint process chain
• Identification: introduction of an electronic identity card and development of eID concepts
• Communication: Secure communications infrastructure for citizens, enterprises and administrations

The closely related federal programme, ‘Future-oriented Administration Through Innovation’, was launched the same day. Its aim is to eliminate unnecessary administrative processes. Public administrations are to concentrate on their core tasks and develop new forms of co-operation, including with private business. To get the message across, a new administrative innovation portal went live at www.verwaltung-innovativ.de on 13 September. It replaces the previous www.staat-modern.de.

http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/5887/194