Born in the 1990s, applied in the early 2000s, and popularized by cryptocurrencies, Blockchain can represent a significant step towards the digitization of the public sector. Blockchain meets the demands of citizens who ask Public Administrations for greater transparency in internal processes and increasingly secure services. Blockchain is an adequate tool that can contribute to the development of E-Government, a topic I have already addressed by analyzing digital technologies that can provide valuable support to digital public communication as a tool for transparency and accountability for PAs.
The aspect that convinces many states to bet on this technology is the ability to collect, verify, and share various types of data securely and transparently, particularly to implement the “Once Only” principle, which aims to reduce administrative barriers and costs by enabling cross-border sharing of information between public administrations in EU countries. The system implements the principle whereby citizens and businesses provide their data to public authorities only once, and these authorities can exchange, upon user request, data and official documents. By implementing the “Once Only” technical system, a more efficient single market is created through the establishment of a common European data space, as stated on the dedicated page of the Department for European Affairs.
Since Blockchain allows tracking of individual operations, its potential in terms of transparency and security is evident. Any modification must be approved by the majority of network nodes that keep track of all exchanges or movements made. Furthermore, operations cannot be deleted, making the review process simpler and safer, potentially reducing fraud—a crucial concept for Blockchain applications, for example, in taxation.
Simplification, transparency, and security are just some of the benefits PAs can enjoy by adopting Blockchain technology. A good E-Government system leads to reduced economic costs and time wastage. Through data sharing, enabled by Blockchain, both in relationships between Public Administrations and between the public and private sectors, it is possible to reduce bureaucratic complexity and the discretionary power of public employees. Last but not least, another advantage is the ease of access to E-Government systems, which helps bridge the often felt gap between citizens and institutions.
Many public sectors could benefit from this technology: public contracts, authorization processes, digital health records, digital identity, tracking of production and agri-food chains, real estate transactions, voting processes, certification of university degrees, and the disbursement of public funds. The potential combination of Blockchain and e-voting (public participation) offers a great opportunity in democratic terms and for meeting the needs of a constantly moving society. Technology applied to voting allows voters to express their preference in a very convenient and secure manner. It enables election organizers to plan the voting process in the most efficient way. Moreover, it has a low resource consumption: e-voting as conceived produces 98% less CO2 emissions compared to, for instance, postal voting.
Blockchain is the perfect digital partner to achieve the principles of transparency, legal certainty, and reliability of administrative action, for an avant-garde rule of law and a PA capable of reducing costs, mitigating the risk of fraud and corruption, ensuring data integrity and quality, and reducing manipulation.
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