[VRT NWS](https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2021/10/18/digitale-portefeuille/)
[Nieuwsblad](https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20211018_99985351)
[HLN](https://www.hln.be/binnenland/elke-belg-krijgt-tegen-2023-digitale-portefeuille-zo-werkt-het~a7ba6bc0/)
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From VRT article
State Secretary for Digitalization Mathieu Michel (MR) wants to give every Belgian a “digital wallet” by 2023. He says this in an interview with Het Belang van Limburg. All official documents would be bundled in this digital wallet, such as your identity card and your driver’s license, but also your marriage booklet or a visa, for example.
Lonne van Erp
08:39
The intention of the digital wallet is to link all the data of the various governments in our country and to make it available more efficiently. And that is necessary, stresses State Secretary Michel: “The digital wallet is necessary because we live in a complex state. Belgians must not be the victims of the complexity of our government. That is why we need tools to simplify the lives of Belgians.”
The digital wallet comes about because the European Union wants all member states to develop identity cards that are available electronically. Belgium wants to make that possible via the digital portfolio, but State Secretary Michel wants to go even further. The wallet will also include an electronic counter. In this way, Belgians will also be able to apply for official documents and permits efficiently. To make the introduction of the digital wallet and the electronic office possible, State Secretary Michel is planning a budget of €50 million.
It is not yet clear exactly what the portfolio will look like in practice. According to Secretary of State Michel, an app will be developed in any case, but it is likely that the wallet will also be consultable via a website. In any case, the State Secretary is confident that the digital wallet will be available to everyone in two years: “It’s going to work. I have the budgets and all the building blocks are ready. The only challenge is to connect the building blocks. But normally it will work.”
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
36 comments
Sounds smart for once
I sincerely hope they will make this super secured so that our identity cannot be stolen.
About to be time. It better be integrated with presently available platforms.
If I get a mail from doccle saying there’s a new message in my eBox saying there’s a new document available in my wallet telling me to go scan my ID at the city hall imma be real disappointed and procrastinate going to the city hall until 6 months past the deadline.
Also our govs don’t have the best track record with these kind of things…
>”The digital wallet is necessary because we live in a complex state. Belgians must not be the victims of the complexity of our government. That is why we need tools to simplify the lives of Belgians.”
Or you know, you could just address the root problem, being a overly complex state?
>To make the introduction of the digital wallet and the electronic office possible, State Secretary Michel is planning a budget of €50 million.
WTF does he expect to get for €50 million? That’s not even close to enough money to get something that’ll do all the things he’s promising. They’ll probably outsource this, causing the price to double already from what it should be anyway…
> In this way, Belgians will also be able to apply for official documents and permits efficiently. It is not yet clear exactly what the portfolio will look like in practice. According to Secretary of State Michel, an app will be developed in any case, but it is likely that the wallet will also be consultable via a website. In any case, the State Secretary is confident that the digital wallet will be available to everyone in two years: “It’s going to work. I have the budgets and all the building blocks are ready. The only challenge is to connect the building blocks. But normally it will work.”
“I have no clue what I’m doing, an app or something I guess? Also a website probably? Also not really sure what all those are going to be used for…” But he’s sure everything will work out for the budget he pulled out of his ass and in a timeline which is ludicrously short for even a small government project.
I mean, I’m all for further digitalization of administration, but under the lead of this fucking clown who has zero IT knowledge, it’s going to be an utter disaster, wasting millions and probably setting us back even further then we are today…
“Belgians must not be the victims of the complexity of our government. That is why we need tools to simplify the lives of Belgians.”
A little late, but the thought is nice I guess.
I thought they were talking about bitcoin for a second. Cunfusion ensued
I can’t wait for this to be outsourced for way to much money, fail due to ever changing requirements and then eventually leak all our private information.This is a hard no for me. I do not trust the gov’t with any digital project/information.
Wat een overbodig systeem imho. Ik heb nog nooit gehad dat ik moest zoeken achter mijn rijbewijs of identiteitskaart of whatever ze in dat digitaal platform willen steken. Het is gewoon een façade, eigenlijk willen ze het makkelijker maken voor hun, om mensen hun privé gegevens te bekijken. (en komt niet af met die bullshit van “maar als je niks illegaal doet, heb je toch niks te vrezen?”) 50 miljoen euro weggesmeten geld ja…
That’s just WeChat without a chat function…
But will my pink overaged driver license fit in it? I still haven’t found a replacement for my 20 years old wallet because of this oversized piece of paper.
ik hoop dat dit opt-in is en niet verplicht zal worden
Can’t wait for all the report saying “I clicked on a Facebook link saying I won an Iphone and now my identity has been stolen and I owe banks millions”
“ Belgians must not be the victims of the complexity of our government. That is why we need tools to simplify the lives of Belgians.”
Great sentiment but would be better to fix the cause, even though it’s much more difficult.
As someone who would forget my ID when traveling I find this a good idea. If it’s secure enough then it should be fine.
I wouldn’t mind another MFA entry in my Microsoft authenticator app.
why not blockchain
Yes, make it easier for thieves to do identity theft. I don’t see this getting abused at all. And frankly i see no benefit for the avarage Belgian.
Yes, we rather mess around with a fix to our fucked up government than to fix the government so we don’t need those idiotic band-aids.
please don’t let Mathieu Michel be in charge of this
So blockchain?
_the State Secretary is confident that the digital wallet will be available to everyone in two years: “It’s going to work. I have the budgets and all the building blocks are ready. The only challenge is to connect the building blocks. But normally it will work.”_
I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry at the utterly naive optimism this MR goon has regarding IT projects involving gov agencies.
It will not be ready in 2023.
And all the links companies have to info about me and I can revoke that link so I don’t get spam anymore? And make illegal to keep databases with info about people.
Seeing as the Flemish government is already experimenting with [Solid](https://overheid.vlaanderen.be/informatie-vlaanderen/ontdek-onze-producten-en-diensten/solid-ecosysteem), this seems like a good opportunity to broaden its scope to the whole of Belgium. Unfortunately the article doesn’t include more details so I don’t know if they will use Solid. But if they do, we would be able to easily share information between governments (both in Belgium and outside, like the EU), while also keeping data safe and allowing the subject of the data to choose who is able to access their data.
You guys still have marriage booklets? o.O
Alternatively, we could simplify government by getting rid of most of them.
Either get a single government for the country (which is too small to support an entire federal bullshit), or go ahead and fuckin split it. Let the Flemish get their wish of independence, and make Brussels a separate country. It will be the size of Liechtenstein and become the de facto European capital.
Then make English an official language in Brussels, alongside French, German and a few more, maybe.
Problem solved.
If you have more problems to solve, I am here all week.
Ah, so we will ~~forge~~ copy an (existing) website where you need your digital id to get access. We use as website names [wallet.fgov.be](https://wallet.fgov.be) , [portemonnaie.fgov.be](https://portemonnaie.fgov.be) and [portefeuille.fgov.be](https://portefeuille.fgov.be) . As a gimmick we put on this site a nice picture of a wallet with a funny face, legs, arms and belgian crown as a hat. The tail of this little fantasy animal is an electrical wire with a plug. On this website we collect links to the other sites that need the digital id to give you access to them.
You may PM me to get my accountnumber to send me the 50 millions euros.
EDIT: Sorry, I forgot the additional website name ‘[brieftasche.fgov.be](https://brieftasche.fgov.be)’. My sincere apologies.
Obviously this means we won’t have to pay for renewals then, right? Right?
Or just simplify the government instead of forcing more of your bullshit onto the people.
I mean like everything there is right now is working so well 😳 (Helena,…) sure let’s add to this. Best idea ever 🤦♀️
I already have an e-box, MyMinFin, my bank offers a vault for documents, and my notary thinks I need izimi….here comes yet another one.
Agenda 21. Step by step.
And this is the reason I want to get out of this country. We are once again paying this with our privacy. Okay okay it’s convenient and everything, but they allow the government to track us very closely. I do not want to live in a country where I’m being watched with every footstep I take. I’d rather die than giving away my privacy.
Sounds good to me. Half the time i forget my passport or drivers license. I never forget my phone though
I hope it works. We’ll see. Could be anywhere between “amazing” and “50 million for nothing” or even“biggest security leak in Belgian history”.
No thanks.
This seems very practical but also very very unsafe
Eerste zin “Mathieu Michel” en ik stopte met lezen. Kan ik evengoe een Artikel lezen hoe Kenny met zijn BMW M2 tegen ne boom is gereden.