53rd issue of Riigikogu Toimetised asks whether Estonia’s digital governance can actually put its data to work
RiTo focus topic “Data as a tricky challenge” lays out why the biggest challenge of one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world is no longer data collection but its smart, ethical, and secure use. The newest issue is presented today at 11 a.m. in the Riigikogu Art Gallery.
RiTo editor-in-chief Marju Himma writes in her editorial that data is not “new oil” but instead a tricky challenge not unlike the climate change: a phenomenon where every solution generates new questions. “Estonia could become an excellent processing plant if we take a next digital leap forward,” Himma says.
Cyber security and e-governance expert Andres Kütt writes that although Estonia has built a powerful system or registers, these had been mainly intended for state administration instead of creating social value. “Data is not a natural resource that can be mined and processed. It is more like a social infrastructure,” Kütt emphasises.
University of Tartu research fellow of health informatics Sulev Reisberg sees an untapped potential to save lives and improve treatment quality in Estonia’s health data. Yet, much needed solutions get caught in red tape and disjointed systems. “Data needs to be made available for use,” Reisberg stresses, advocating a simplified legal space and quick test projects to improve the health care system.
Sille Sepp along with her co-authors analyses how Estonia’s digital governance could progress towards human-oriented data management. The article highlights that technological capability alone does not inspire trust: people need to know how their data is being used and how that benefits them.
In the research section, Rein Murakas and his co-authors highlight that Technology 4.0 does not mean exclusively new technologies but a deep technological and cultural transformation in Estonian businesses. Success does not depend solely on equipment or software; instead, the clinching factor is whether people and organisations are capable of going along with the changes.
Mai Beilmann and Anneli Kährik examine the critical social problem of the invisibility of NEET youth —i.e. youth who are not in employment, education or training. Particular attention is given to the so-called “good girls” —students who perform well in school and whose problems often go unnoticed until they drop out of the system. The authors warn that late problem recognition can lead to long-term marginalisation both in education and labour market.
All these data-related challenges, but also future opportunities, were discussed in the RiTo debate by Lea Danilson-Järg (Isamaa), Andrei Korobeinik (Centre Party), Helmen Kütt (Social Democratic Party), Stig Rästa (Estonia 200), Madis Timpson (Reform Party), and Varro Vooglaid (Estonian Conservative People’s Party).
The 53rd issue is presented today, 3 June, at 11 a.m. in the Riigikogu Art Gallery.
The presentation will include a panel discussion with the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs Deputy Secretary General of Digital Affairs Lauri Luht and cyber security and e-governance expert Andres Kütt. The presentation can be watched online or later in the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
The latest articles are already accessible on RiTo web page.
Riigikogu Toimetised (RiTo, Proceedings of the Riigikogu) is a parliamentary journal that has been published since 2000 and covers various important topics for the society. The intended audience of the biannual journal is everyone interested in politics and society.
For more information, please contact:
Marju Himma
Editor-in-Chief of Riigikogu Toimetised
+372 5341 0997
[email protected]
Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]
