Italy’s Digital Civil Registration Faces Mixed Reviews in OECD DGI Report
Italy’s recent advancements in digital civil registration have garnered mixed reviews according to the OECD Digital Government Index (DGI). The DGI evaluates how governments implement and sustain digital transformation across their public sectors, with Italy showing progress in specific areas while experiencing setbacks in others.
Italy’s Digital Civil Registration Improvements
Italy has successfully modernized its civil registry infrastructure, connecting over 7,000 municipalities to the National Computerized Archive of Civil Status Registers (ANSC). Major cities like Milan, Naples, and Turin are now part of this unified digital system.
This overhaul enables the country to record vital statistics such as births and marriages through a secure online platform. The ANSC integrates seamlessly with the National Registry of the Resident Population (ANPR), enhancing the accuracy of data across public services.
Challenges in Digital Proactiveness
While Italy has improved its “open by default” score from 0.55 to 0.73, it faced a decline in “proactiveness,” dropping from 0.46 to 0.39. This area assesses how effectively governments anticipate citizen needs. In this respect, Italy joins countries like Mexico and the UK, which also experienced decreases.
IT-Wallet Milestone Achievement
Italy’s commitment to digital identity is reflected in the activation of over 10 million IT-Wallets within the IO app. This digital wallet feature allows users to securely store official documents, with 17.3 million documents uploaded so far.
- Driving Licenses: 8.5 million activations
- Health Insurance and European Health Insurance Cards: 8.5 million activations
- European Disability Cards: Approximately 200,000 activations
Supported by institutions such as the Department for Digital Transformation, the IT-Wallet has become a cornerstone of Italy’s digital public services. Undersecretary of State for Technological Innovation, Alessio Butti, highlights that the IT-Wallet complements traditional documents, giving citizens more control.
Plans for Future Expansion
The government intends to expand the IT-Wallet’s functionalities, potentially incorporating additional documents like electoral cards. Last summer, offline access was introduced, allowing citizens to access essential documents even without internet connectivity.
In summary, while Italy has made significant strides in digital civil registration and identity services, it must address challenges in proactive service delivery to fully meet the needs of its citizens. Reports from the OECD DGI reveal both achievements and areas for improvement in Italy’s ongoing digital transformation journey.
