Reduce paperwork, create conditions for online public services
In the digital age, ensuring synchronization and digitization of citizen data, especially information about civil status, is very necessary, even an urgent task. To meet that requirement, with the spirit of strongly shifting to the non-territorial civil status registration model based on digital data platforms, the amended Law on Civil Status has created a step forward in line with the trend of modern governance.
At the First Session, the 16th National Assembly passed the Law on Civil Status (amended). One of the important new points of the newly passed Law on Civil Status is the recognition of the legal value of electronic data and electronic copies of civil status documents equivalent to paper copies.
Previously, according to the 2014 Law on Civil Status Registration, paper copies were still the main basis when carrying out transactions and administrative procedures. People often had to present or submit certified copies, leading to many intermediate steps. However, new regulations in the amended Law on Civil Status Registration have allowed the use of electronic data directly from the civil status database, and agencies are not allowed to require people to provide papers if the information is already in the system.
The Law clearly states that electronic civil status data includes electronic copies of civil status documents. Data in the Civil Status Database meets the provisions of law on electronic transactions, "valuable as paper civil status documents" when carrying out administrative procedures and other transactions.
The recognition of the legal value of electronic data is the basis for reducing paperwork, limiting the situation of multiple copies and certifications, and creating conditions for the implementation of online public services. The civil status registration agency is responsible for checking information in the Civil Status Database and related databases before registering civil status.
People enjoy digital convenience and safety
The core point of the new regulation lies in the ability to integrate and interlink strongly. Electronic civil status data is no longer located alone at local registration agencies but is directly connected to the National Population Database.
When electronic copies have legal value equivalent to paper copies, the biggest impact on people is freedom of space and time.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung (resident in Xuan Phuong ward, Hanoi City) said that the biggest benefit for people in cleaning civil status data is reducing paperwork and shortening the time to carry out administrative procedures. According to Mr. Hung, when civil status data is digitized and connected to the national population database, a lot of information already in the system will be directly exploited by state agencies. People do not have to submit documents that state agencies already have data on.
National Assembly Deputy Pham Van Hoa (from Dong Thap delegation) said that when data is digitized, the resolution of administrative procedures will be faster, more transparent and convenient for people.
However, according to this delegate, the key to success lies in infrastructure synchronization and building "digital trust". Technology infrastructure at the commune and ward levels must be invested commensurately, avoiding the situation of "the top is clear but the bottom is not open" due to lack of data reading equipment.
