Published: November 16 2023
Hungary has introduced a new smartphone app, called DÁP, that allows citizens to verify their identity and handle business matters more easily and efficiently. The app aims to streamline administration processes and eliminate the need for carrying personal IDs.
Benefits of the DÁP app
With the DÁP app, citizens will no longer need to carry personal identification as their smartphones can serve as a verification tool. The app will allow users to handle various business matters, such as car registration and birth-related administration. In the future, it is expected that the app will be expanded to include services from banks, insurance firms, and telecoms companies.
European expansion of digital administration
Hungary's DÁP app is just the beginning of a larger trend towards digital administration throughout Europe. Similar services are expected to be available across the continent in the coming years, making it possible to handle various administrative tasks electronically. This shift towards digital administration is expected to result in lower costs and increased efficiency.
Data privacy and surveillance concerns addressed
In response to concerns about data privacy and surveillance, government officials have stated that the app is modeled after examples from Denmark and Singapore, not China. The app will only provide the state with access to data that it already has. Additionally, the app is optional and those who do not wish to use it are not required to download it.
Conclusion
The introduction of Hungary's DÁP app marks a significant step towards easier and more efficient administration and business transactions. With the app, citizens will be able to verify their identity and handle various tasks, eliminating the need for carrying personal IDs. As similar services become available throughout Europe, the shift towards digital administration is expected to bring about cost savings and improved efficiency.
Questions & Answers
What is the smartphone ID app introduced in Hungary? The smartphone ID app, called DÁP, enables individuals to verify their identity using their smartphones. It aims to make administration easier, more efficient, and quicker.
When will the smartphone ID app be fully operative in Hungary? The smartphone ID app, DÁP, is expected to be fully operative in 2026.
Will citizens still need to carry personal ID once the app is fully operative? No, once the app is fully operative, it will no longer be necessary for citizens to carry personal ID. The app will serve as a digital form of identification.
What types of business matters can be taken care of via the app? Banks, insurance firms, and telecoms companies will be ordered to make it possible for clients to take care of various business matters via the app. This includes the management of car registration and birth-related administration.
Will digital administration be available throughout Europe? Yes, according to Rogán, similar services will be available throughout Europe within a few years. This means that various administrative processes, from fishing licenses to weapons permits, will be handled electronically across the continent.
Will the app make citizens' data more accessible to the government? No, the government will only have access to the data on citizens that it already has access to. The app does not expand the government's access to citizens' data.
Is the smartphone ID app a surveillance tool? According to Rogán, the app was modeled after Danish and Singaporean examples, not Chinese ones. However, there have been concerns raised about creating a surveillance state. It is important to note that downloading and using the app is optional, and those who do not want to use it are not required to download it.
