Digital Government Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Why Estonia succeeded with its digital transformation? Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

On Estonia's Independence Day on 24 February, we are glad to share with you the secret behind the digital transformation success story of Estonia. So, why did Estonia succeed?
To a great extent, Estonia's success is a story of luck and timing. But hindsight has allowed the architects of the digital state to extract a blueprint to support digitalisation in other countries.
With Linnar Viik, our Programme Director of Smart Governance, we reflect on the components that benefited Estonia’s digital transformation and the mindset that can help any country succeed. Follow us! And Happy Independence Day Estonia!

Among the giants – Governments and regulation in a digital economy Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

By now, we have become familiar with how the relationship between big tech firms and governments has largely been portrayed in the media. So often it looks like a clash between opposing factions – the first standing on its ground to keep the market as free as possible, with the latter proposing laws to holding these companies increasingly more accountable.
Is there, actually, a conflict between these two forces? A rather conciliatory response to this puzzle comes from Katrin Nyman-Metcalf, the Senior Legal Expert at e-Governance Academy. Through her contribution, we explore who makes the rules on the Internet today and why offering tech giants a seat at the law-making table could lead to more effective regulatory environments. Tune in!

Where to start the public e-service development? Feb 10, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to our 26th episode of the Digital Government Podcast! In today's episode, Janek Rozov, Strategy Director at the Information Technology and Development Center of the Ministry of Interior and the former Chief Digital Officer of the Estonian Government, clarifies the questions that should be answered before going digital with public services. We talk about the value of e-services, the legislation behind it, and the connectivity and social context of public e-services. Tune in!

The digital transformation challenges of Pacific Islands Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

What comes in your mind when you hear someone mentioning the Pacific Islands? Probably sandy beaches, palm trees and sunshine. In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we go beyond the tourist attractions and take a look at the digital side of these countries. Today's guest, Hannes Astok, sheds light on how the governments of Kiribati and the Kingdom of Tonga are resolving the main challenges that are holding back their digital transformation. But he also shares his dreams on what horizons the better internet connectivity and IT-wise officials could open for the people of the Pacific Islands. Tune in!

What makes online voting secure? Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

Do you know how old is the concept of online voting? It comes back to the 19th century when Thomas Alva Edison introduced it to the US congress. Why then, even two centuries later, are there so few countries that use online voting to ensure equal access for their citizens to express their democratic rights? Even in today’s world, where due to pandemic it would be safer to vote remotely, staying at home?

In this episode, cyber security experts Liisa Past and Jan Willemson from Cybernetica Ltd talk about the historical and cognitive aspects of online voting and explain how technology and maths ensure the requirements of voting freedom and competitiveness, thus making online voting a secure and trustworthy solution.

Liisa Past introduces the talk as the followings: "Historical experience and constant practice make relatively static paper elections predictable and therefore safe. The dynamic digital world requires new approaches to the elections and a new risk assessment. Election organisers alone cannot operate in a much more dynamic digital world; they must be supported by scientists as well as cyber security guards and communicators."

According to Jan Willemson: "The reason why we consider paper elections to be safe is due to historical experience, but not always due to rational risk analysis. The danger here is that the historical experience is valid in a historical environment, but the environment is currently changing very rapidly. Therefore, the security level of paper elections should also be reassessed in the context of current rapid technological development. The benefit of mathematics is that it allows us to make stronger claims for online voting, than what you possibly have about paper voting."

What are these claims? What makes online voting secure? Tune in to find out!
The podcast was recorded on January 6.

Digital tools in the global battle against corruption Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

“Corruption as a disease, for which transparency is the cure” is a politically popular analogy, that surely resonates when trying to capture such widespread, global challenge all countries continue to face today. But researchers contend that the actual manifestations of corruption are far too complex to fit into the simple frames built by this parallel.

If we build a conceptual bridge with healthcare, the analogy holds more easily. The sector has been long benefitting from technology and emerging innovation – can the same happen to the fight against corruption?

Together with Carina Paju, Executive Director at Transparency International (TI) Estonia, and Kristina Reinsalu, Programme Director of e-Democracy at e-Governance Academy, we explore some of the latest digital tools deployed to combat corruption. Tune in!

Lessons learnt from the digital transformation journeys of various countries Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

At the beginning of the year, we summed up our lessons learnt from the digital transformation journeys of various countries. Our team has been on these journeys for the past 18 years and obtained useful lessons that could benefit every country that starts or continues its digital transformation.
In this episode, Federico Plantera and Hannes Astok provide the list of preconditions and main features that assure the successful development and implementation of digital solutions.
Their talk is showcased by examples from Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and the Pacific Islands. Tune in!

Trends to watch out for in 2021 Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

The year 2020 became definitely a crossroad in digital transformation. Has it been any easy, with all the pain this pandemic caused? Absolutely not. But, on the flip side, the digital way has been now internalised as a must and a necessity by everyone like never before.

This year, what awaits is a systematisation of all the disruptors that shaped new normality. With Linnar Viik, Programme Director of Smart Governance at e-Governance Academy, we shed light on the digital trends set to shape transformative projects in the public sector in 2021. Tune in!

Lessons learned from 2020 for governments Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

What lessons learned should governments and public officials take away from this year? In this year’s final episode of the Digital Government Podcast, former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves shares his hopes, fears and criticisms on how governments have coped with the pandemic challenges.

As expected from the former President of Estonia, his recipe for governments to challenge the pandemic is to go digital and enhance cooperation. In the episode, he highlights the need for cross-border interoperable data exchange to track the coronavirus and share vaccination information. Moreover, he points out the bottlenecks that don't allow us to fully benefit from technology. Tune in!

Participatory budgeting: a powerful tool to improve engagement and policy design Dec 09, 2020

Show notes

In a democratic society, the quality of the relationship between governments and citizens is a key talking point – and if not, most probably it should. Across the layers of governance, municipalities certainly represent the closest governmental actor to citizens. Such proximity not only works as the testing ground for state-to-people interactions but also as an incubator for innovative ideas directly sourced from the citizenry.
Kristina Reinsalu, Programme Director of e-Democracy at eGA, has been one of the main initiators and facilitators of the Participatory Budgeting in Estonia, and Georgia.
In this episode, we explore with her how engaging citizens in decision-making unlocks hidden resources for local administrators and dramatically contributes to community building.
Tune in!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Digital Government Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected