6th of September 2017, the Dutch national Ombudsman published a devastating report on the functioning of the ‘message box in MyGovernment’. The national Ombudsman wrote: “The Ministry of the interior must fulfil its directing role by setting up a digital facility that meets the latest technical standards, that citizens are enthusiastic about and thus would like to join.”

This has led to a plan to centrally register the contact details of citizens and entrepreneurs. Government organisations may use this contact information “for supplementary services” such as communications for your local neighbourhood and for requesting information from you. All formal government communication will still be sent by mail or via the Message Box of MyGovernment.

Commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Kantar Public has asked citizens what they think of this plan. The researchers note in their report:

“Both citizens and entrepreneurs want to be able to adjust how governmental organisations determine which government organisations may use their contact details and which sorts of information they want to receive. A majority also wants to be able to set up work and private activities separately and/or to use several telephone numbers or e-mail addresses.”

To achieve this, a central registration of e-mail addresses is not sufficient. A central registration is susceptible to cyber-attacks. In addition, the registration will be a snapshot; within the foreseeable future, a large part of the collected e-mail addresses will be outdated or completely obsolete.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the Ministry of the Interior to implement ‘Personal Data Management’ in an exceptionally relevant way. The Qiy way of thinking could have added value: Qiy makes it possible for people to connect 1-to-1 with the government organisations of their choice. As soon as a citizen or an entrepreneur does this, a 1-on-1 secured and encrypted communication channel is created between that citizen or entrepreneur and the government organisation(s) of their choice. When the connection is made, individuals can indicate the way in which they wish to receive government messages (by e-mail, by post or via the communication channel of the 1-on-1 connection that has been established. They can also set their preferences as to which government communications they wish to receive, and individuals have the possibility to establish separate connections for business or private purposes.