Image: ©MicroStockHub | iStock
Rapid technological advances are transforming and reinventing governance, creating both opportunities and challenges. Governments must address the complex issue of balancing innovation with ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks.
From machine learning, AI, space technology to healthcare, the way we use and harness technology in business and everyday life is changing like never before.
Governance reform: Improving efficiency and transparency
As is well known, technological innovation has great disruptive power and is expected to bring about major changes in the way society functions.
This makes good governance both easier and more challenging for governments. There is no doubt that technology has played a key role in helping governments govern and communicate with their citizens. In the past, technological advances such as the advent of the internet have improved communication, data access, and citizen engagement. This change has enabled governments to streamline administrative processes, share information more easily, and be involved in decision-making.
Technology has also revolutionized governance by streamlining processes and making them faster and more cost-effective while increasing transparency. Automation of routine tasks through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning has freed up human resources to focus on more complex decision-making processes. Digital platforms can simplify administrative procedures, minimize errors, and reduce the time and costs associated with traditional paper-based systems.
Data Protection and Privacy
However, governments also need to focus on protecting citizens’ data, creating regulatory frameworks, and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to increase transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement.
There is a need for a balanced approach that addresses ethical and regulatory complexities without stifling innovation. Here, collaboration between regulators and technologists could help fill the knowledge gap and build an effective governance framework.
Government Initiatives
As mentioned earlier, governments are increasingly leveraging technology for good: According to the UN e-Government Survey, the total number of countries in the high e-Government Development Index (EGDI) group increased from 69 to 73 between 2020 and 2022.
This indicates a positive global trend towards the development of e-government.
As governments become increasingly reliant on digital solutions, the risk of cyber attacks grows. As digitalization advances, the need to protect personal information has never been more important. This requires continued investment in cybersecurity measures and the development of robust protocols to protect digital infrastructure. Balancing the benefits of data-driven decision-making with the need for privacy and data protection is a critical and necessary task.
Additionally, new technologies and innovations don't always work within existing regulatory frameworks. That's why creating agile regulatory frameworks is essential to keep up with rapid technological change. That's why the UK led the creation of Agile Nations, a forum with six other countries to collaborate on experimental regulatory approaches to new technologies. This paves the way for countries to work together to help innovators understand each other's rules and work with regulators to test new ideas and scale them to global markets.
Efficiency and security are important for companies that work closely with governments, especially in the outsourcing sector.
Efficient and safe processes
At VFS Global, we use advanced technology in our application and operational processes. To provide secure and innovative services, we are always seeking advanced technology and beneficial partnerships. We are already using efficient and secure technology to collect biometric details for visa at the applicant's residence or office, making it hassle-free and time-saving.
VFS Global recently partnered with the Responsible AI Institute (RAI), a non-profit organisation committed to promoting responsible AI practices, to develop safe and ethical AI solutions adapted to the operational needs of visa processing, ensuring that the company’s technological advancements in governance adhere to the highest standards of security and safety in line with national and international regulatory frameworks.
With an extensive network of over 3,400 application centres across 153 countries and experience in processing over 292 million applications, VFS Global is at the forefront of technology-enabled governance transformation, particularly in the areas of visa and passport processing, identity management and citizen services.
This partnership-led approach ensures that technological advances in governance are aligned with the specific needs and timelines of each government, fostering a responsible and innovative approach to reforming governance through technology.
