I am in the process of moving countries. Whilst I am looking very much forward to being relocated, the administrivia in becoming thus is tedious, time consuming, and involves many parties, all of whom want data from me about some or other aspect of my lives.
Banks, removalists, my new employer, reference checkers, landlords, real estate agents. They all need data to make this happen. Data on my education, my banking details, the state of my health, my dogs’ vaccination histories, and so on. It’s the one truly annoying thing about moving.
i am dreaming, at a time when every bit of my data is now digitised, of an environment in which those who need it, can be given access to it. But it remains mine and I am comfortable it’s s safe and not being monetised. In this fantasy, no information would need to be entered twice, all my employment, education, health and pet information would be accessible, insurance claims and traffic or other offenses would be logged and my rental history, banking information and debt details would exist. Those who needed it could be given access to just the bits they need, with no need for me to fill in endless forms.
Turns out there is a real place where all of this fantasy list is currently in operation. It’s not any of the Disney parks nor some gated community. It’s the entire country of Estonia. Read this article in The New Yorkerand see what a bit of vision, a lot of tech and a considerable amount of determination can achieve when a country makes a decision to serve its citizens instead of subjecting them to bureaucracy.
Why aren’t we all living in this sort of state?