ANALYTICAL NOTE: DIGITAL IDENTITY AND USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: REALITIES AND PERSPECTIVES

Author: Victor Guzun

INTRODUCTION 

The Republic of Moldova has placed digital transformation among its national development priorities. On September 6, 2024, the Government of the Republic of Moldova adopted the National Digital Transformation Strategy for the period 2023-2030. The strategy targets all branches of the economy and public life, aiming to develop an inclusive digital society from which every citizen will benefit. According to the adopted document, by the end of 2024, 75% of all public services must be digitalized, and by 2030, all 716 public services will be accessible in digital format.

Public institutions in the Republic of Moldova must include the objectives and provisions of the Strategy in their activity plans, and the document also outlines a series of necessary elements for systemic and efficient digital transformation, which must be taken into consideration by all implementing entities when planning digital programs and solutions. A fundamental precondition for implementing digital solutions is the advanced qualified digital authentication and signature tools and the degree of their use by the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Full use of digital services is impossible without these tools.

This analytical note aims to identify the coverage level of advanced qualified digital authentication and signature tools among the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and the prospects for increasing the number of users and developing new digital authentication and signature tools. To this end, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) has requested and received relevant information from institutions that process and issue advanced qualified digital authentication and signature tools: the Information Technology and Cyber Security Service (STISC), the Public Services Agency (ASP), telecommunications operators Orange and Moldcell, the Centre for Information Technologies in Finance (CTIF), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MAEIE). The collected data presents the situation as of December 31, 2023. Therefore, the analysis offers a fully documented, exhaustive, complete, and up-to-date perspective on the use of digital authentication and signature tools in the Republic of Moldova.