US launches biometric border security system: The US Department of Homeland Security has officially launched a program aimed at enhancing the security of the country's borders. The US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indication Technology (US VISIT) is an IT system that purports to make it more difficult for criminals and potential terrorists to enter the US. From January 2004, all foreign visitors who need a visa to enter the US will have their biometric data recorded upon arrival at a major US airport or seaport. Visitors' passports will be screened, a digital photograph will be taken, and their fingerprints will be recorded. The data will be checked against watch lists for terrorist connections and previous criminal or visa violations. The scheme will initially apply only to visitors who need a visa to enter the US, which excludes EU Member States, but the US government wants to extend the system to all foreigners by October 2004. The US administration is currently trying to persuade all countries that enjoy "visa waiver" status to include fingerprints in their passports.
US local government Web sites lack interactivity: Most local governments in the US have a Web presence, but the majority of sites are static and lack transactional facilities, according to a survey by the Maryland Institute for Policy and Research Analysis. The study found that 88 percent of towns with a population of 10,000 or more have a local government Web site, but only 6 percent of such towns have access to on-line financial transactions with the local government. The survey of 3,500 local government IT officials found that only around 50 percent said they had enough IT expertise to launch true e-government initiatives. Half of all respondents said they lacked sufficient funding to pursue e-government goals. Other reasons cited for poor progress in e-government were a lack of support from elected officials, concerns about privacy and security and a reluctance to charge for on-line transactions.
South Koreans shy away from e-government: Less than one-third of Internet users in South Korea know the URL of the administration's e-government Web site, according to a study conducted by South Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily. In a survey of 3,700 Internet users, only 29 percent knew where to find the government's on-line initiative, a WON300 billion (USD251 million) project that was launched in November 2002. Just 13 percent of respondents said they had used e-government services in the last three months. More than 800 e-government terminals have been placed in government offices and train stations in South Korea but, says the JoongAng Daily, citizens find them difficult to use and prefer to conduct government business in person or over the phone. In addition, the most frequently used public services are not available on-line, such as change of address forms, due to government fears about the falsification of records. Furthermore, the paper says, e-services are only available during office hours, on account of a dispute between government agencies.
Australia to test cross-border e-payment scheme: Australia is to trial an e-payment system designed to allow foreign companies to purchase Australian goods in their own currency. The government has agreed to give a grant of AUD165,000 to the MyExports project, a joint initiative between the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), e-payment company Paymate and courier company DHL-Danzas Air and Ocean. "Allowing overseas importers to pay on-line in their currency with the same ease and convenience as they would with a domestic purchase will enable Australian exports to be more easily compared to domestic sources," said Austrade's Internet Advisor, Edwin Kuller. The pilot scheme for the cross-border invoicing and payment service is initially only available to exporters to the UK. The Australian federal government and Austrade are hoping that the scheme will help contribute to its goal of doubling Australian exports by 2006.
Bahrain to launch citizen smartcard: Bahrain is planning to introduce a multi-purpose identity card for all citizens from the start of 2004. The smartcard is a key element of a multi-million-dinar plan to launch a comprehensive e-government system. The card will contain personal information such as health records, driving licence details and fingerprints, and it will function as a passport and polling card. One of its most important functions will be its ability to act as a debit card; users will be able to transfer money from their bank accounts into the "account" of the ID card. "The most important benefit is that it can be used to store money and make payments," said Shaikh Ahmed bin Attiyatallah Al Khalifa, Under-Secretary of the Central Informatics Organisation. Underpinning the new ID card system will be a newly designed database linking all government ministries, due to be completed in early 2004. "These steps lay the foundation and the smartcard will sit on top of them," said Shaikh Ahmed, adding that "without the smartcard there will be no e-government."
Quelle: electricnews.
