Over the last two weeks, the Ministry of Digital Governance has been rolling out a significant reform designed to improve the efficiency and transparency of public services for citizens.
A primary component of this initiative is the launch of the Personal ID Number (P.I.N.) via the myInfo platform, which streamlines and securely manages citizens’ personal data. So far, more than 337,000 citizens have received their Personal ID Numbers, attesting to the process’s effectiveness and accessibility.
The Personal ID Number serves as a digital “key” for all citizen interactions with public services. Through the myInfo platform, users can view a consolidated summary of the information the government holds on them, including their full name, parents’ names, date of birth, and primary identification numbers such as their Tax ID (AFM), Social Security Number (AMKA), and ID card number (ADT). This allows citizens to verify their data and confirm its accuracy.
The platform enables users to promptly submit correction requests for any discrepancies they may find. To date, there have been over 96,000 identified discrepancies in crucial identification details, particularly regarding names and dates of birth. The majority of these issues are linked to the AMKA registry (45,369 cases), the Tax ID (30,814), and the ID card registry (20,114). Once citizens verify their information, the system automatically initiates the correction process, transmitting the updated data to the relevant authorities.
“In less than two weeks, more than 330,000 citizens have received their Personal ID Number. This impressive figure highlights the ease of the issuance process. Gradually, citizens are acquiring the unique identifier necessary for interaction with public services, while public registries are being streamlined,” stated Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou in an interview with the Athens News Agency (APE-MPE).
“Through myInfo, citizens can access a comprehensive view of the government data associated with them and verify it prior to receiving their P.I.N. Thus far, 96,297 discrepancies have been noted between the Citizen Registry and other databases regarding names, surnames, or dates of birth. Once confirmed in myInfo, the correction process begins automatically. We are systematically addressing mistakes and inaccuracies that have long affected citizens. Additionally, this provides the state with a unified, accurate profile of each citizen, enabling us to deliver more efficient digital services,” he added, emphasizing: “Our aim is to enhance state efficiency, and the P.I.N. is a vital tool in achieving that.”
Interoperability and automation guarantee that each citizen’s information is accurate and consistent across all systems, allowing the state to trust its data and improve the reliability and efficiency of public services. Furthermore, the inclusion of the P.I.N. on new ID cards, which have already been issued to around 9,700 citizens, enhances security and simplifies identification processes.
“The implementation of the Personal ID Number relied on the authentication of all Greek citizens, a commitment spanning at least four years. This initiative is designed to enhance the functionality of our state, providing a unified citizen profile and a high standard of evaluation for digital public services. The Personal ID Number and the myInfo application lay the digital groundwork for a new generation of services, demonstrating that digital transformation is progressing and becoming a real experience for us all,” commented Demosthenis Anagnostopoulos, Secretary General of Information Systems and Digital Governance, in a statement to APE-MPE.
Digital transformation is among the significant challenges of our era, and Greece is making notable strides toward this goal with these initiatives. The endeavor to establish a digital state that operates efficiently, swiftly, and securely is increasingly achievable through the use of the Personal ID Number. The interoperability attained through automated updates and corrections is set to fundamentally improve the relationship between citizens and the state, making data management more reliable and effective. Citizens can now access all state-held information through one digital portal, validate its accuracy, and ask for corrections without bureaucratic hurdles.
As digitization emerges as the most effective mechanism for enhancing public services, Greece showcases its commitment to fostering a more citizen-centric, transparent, and efficient public administration through meticulous planning and modern technologies. Citizens stand to gain significantly, enjoying increased control, reliability, and speed in accessing services and exercising their rights. This initiative is not just about digital technology; it represents a meaningful transformation of the state-citizen relationship into a more contemporary and humane framework, aiming for improved service and the development of a fairer, more effective society.
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