I am from Ukraine, where we have a very large uptake of digital national IDs and even government service mobile applications (municipal, health, military etc.). These service were relatively popular when launched, but there was a massive increase in uptake after the full scale invasion.
One of the main strengths of the digital national ID/mobile government services is that they are so convenient. A bureaucratic process (that was actually very simple) could take 4-5 hours waiting in line in say 2012, now it can be done almost immediately. The government constantly adds different useful modules and systems. For example, during COVID up to date vaccination status was present in the app and you could use it while travelling (at least to the EU, no clue about US). I like the Kyiv municipal app as well. It’s relatively well designed and offers a bunch of services. Broad uptake also means that there are network effects; with companies and government services integrating these services (e.g. in situations where you need to confirm your identity).
I would also argue the notion of privacy isn’t as linear and simple as might seem at first glance. There are legitimate situations where the government needs access to data to find traitors and collaborators. This saves lives as it weakens the russians’ ability to target their air strikes. That being said, we already had a national ID system (legacy of russian occupation under the USSR) before, so you only benefit from digitization.
I am from Ukraine, where we have a very large uptake of digital national IDs and even government service mobile applications (municipal, health, military etc.). These service were relatively popular when launched, but there was a massive increase in uptake after the full scale invasion.
One of the main strengths of the digital national ID/mobile government services is that they are so convenient. A bureaucratic process (that was actually very simple) could take 4-5 hours waiting in line in say 2012, now it can be done almost immediately. The government constantly adds different useful modules and systems. For example, during COVID up to date vaccination status was present in the app and you could use it while travelling (at least to the EU, no clue about US). I like the Kyiv municipal app as well. It’s relatively well designed and offers a bunch of services. Broad uptake also means that there are network effects; with companies and government services integrating these services (e.g. in situations where you need to confirm your identity).
I would also argue the notion of privacy isn’t as linear and simple as might seem at first glance. There are legitimate situations where the government needs access to data to find traitors and collaborators. This saves lives as it weakens the russians’ ability to target their air strikes. That being said, we already had a national ID system (legacy of russian occupation under the USSR) before, so you only benefit from digitization.