This document discusses the importance and implications of information and communication technologies (ICT) and e-government. It notes that ICT enables information sharing between government departments and access by citizens, but this raises legal issues around data storage, exchange, and access that require laws and regulations. The document also examines implications for the communications sector, including the need for licensing, competition rules, and universal access obligations.

1. ‫أكاديمية الحكومة اإللكترونية الفلسطينية‬
The Palestinian eGovernment Academy
www.egovacademy.ps
Tutorial 6: The Legal Framework of New Technologies
Session3
Introduction to ICT and E-government
Dr. Samer Najjar
PalGov © 2011 1

2. About
This tutorial is part of the PalGov project, funded by the TEMPUS IV program of the
Commission of the European Communities, grant agreement 511159-TEMPUS-1-
2010-1-PS-TEMPUS-JPHES. The project website: www.egovacademy.ps
Project Consortium:
Birzeit University, Palestine
University of Trento, Italy
(Coordinator )
Palestine Polytechnic University, Palestine Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Palestine Technical University, Palestine
Université de Savoie, France
Ministry of Telecom and IT, Palestine
University of Namur, Belgium
Ministry of Interior, Palestine
TrueTrust, UK
Ministry of Local Government, Palestine
Coordinator:
Dr. Mustafa Jarrar
Birzeit University, P.O.Box 14- Birzeit, Palestine
Telfax:+972 2 2982935 mjarrar@birzeit.eduPalGov © 2011
2

3. © Copyright Notes
Everyone is encouraged to use this material, or part of it, but should properly
cite the project (logo and website), and the author of that part.
No part of this tutorial may be reproduced or modified in any form or by any
means, without prior written permission from the project, who have the full
copyrights on the material.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
CC-BY-NC-SA
This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-
commercially, as long as they credit you and license their new creations
under the identical terms.
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4. Session’s ILOs
• a1: understand the legal frame for access
management
• a2: Enforcing security management through internal
regulation
• a6: Understand the importance of policy making in
the legislative process
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5. What is ICT
Easy to tell the words:
• I: Information ‫المعلومات‬
• C: Communications ‫االتصاالت‬
• T: Technologies ‫التكنولوجٌا‬
Difficult to get concise definition due:
Fast advancement of technology
‫من الصعب الحصول على تعرٌف دقٌق لسرعة التطورات‬
‫التقنٌة‬
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6. What is ICT
It is about Communicating Information by using a
Technology
Technology: is normally thought of as a DEVICE?
‫التكنولوجٌا ٌنظر الٌها كجهاز‬
It is about procedure often including a device
‫من االفضل النظر الٌها كعملٌة غالبا م تتضمن استخدام جهاز‬
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7. What is ICT
It comprises all types of hardware and
software that has anything to do with
communicating information by
technological means and the services
associated with them
ً‫تتضمن جمٌع انواع المكونات المادٌة والبرمجٌات الت‬
‫تتربط باي شكل من تكنولوجٌات نقل المعلومات‬
‫والخدمات المتعلقة بها‬
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8. What is ICT
Includes:
Device, that is used for :‫جهاز ٌستخدم لـ‬
storing, ‫تخزين‬
retrieving, ‫استراجاع‬
manipulating, ‫معالجة‬
transmitting or )‫نقل (وبث‬
receiving ‫استقبال‬
Information ‫المعلوملت‬
in a electronic form. ‫بشكل الكتروني‬
Examples: PC, digital television, email, satellite,
robots, …..
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9. What is ICT
The definition of ICT: “the use of information in order to
meet human need or purpose including reference to
the use of contemporary devices such as the
Internet. However, in an ever-changing world of
Video-phones, mobile computing, blogs, Skype and
OSS perhaps we should no longer just include the
Internet, but leave the definition at 'contemporary
devices...?”
Ray Tolley
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10. What ICT laws
• This area of the law focuses on the
legal risks posed by information
technology, information security and
information management.
‫• القوانٌن التً تركز على المخاطر التً ٌطرحها استخدام‬
‫التكنولوجٌا، وسرٌة المعلومات وتنظٌم االتصاالت‬
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11. ICT & E-government - Information
• Information held by government need
to be: :‫المعلومات التً بحوزة الحكومة ٌجب ان‬
- Stored ‫تخزن‬
- Exchanged by different departments
‫ٌتم تبادلها بٌن الدوائر المختلفة‬
- Accessed by people ‫االطالع علٌها‬
- Etc…
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12. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Information ‫تخزٌن المعلومات‬
- Stored ?
Is it safe? ‫هل المعومات بامان‬
Accurate? ‫هل تحفظ بدقة‬
How long it should be kept?
‫ما هً المدة الزمنٌة لألحتفاظ بها‬
Hence the need for laws and regulations
to ensure that.
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13. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Information ‫تبادل المعلومات بٌن الدوائر‬
- Exchanged between departments?
Is it safe? ‫هل تتم العملٌة بشكل آمن‬
who has the authority to consult
info?
‫من ٌمتلك الصالحٌة لالطالع علٌها‬
Hence the need for more laws and
regulations to facilitate that.
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14. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Information (Citizens‟ Dimension)
(‫• المعلومات )عالقتها بالمواطن‬
- Have citizens the right to see what information
is held about them?
‫- هل ٌملك المواطن حق االطالع على المعلومات المتعلقة به ؟‬
- How can they rectify any errors?
‫- هل له الحق بتصحٌح االخطاء اذا وجدت ؟‬
- Can they tell who has accessed their information?
‫- هل له الحق بمعرفة من قام باالطالع على المعومات الخاصة به ؟‬
Hence the need for a Freedom of
Information Act (maybe?).
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15. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Communications ‫االتصاالت‬
- Who owns the infrastructure?
‫- من الذي ٌمتلك البنٌة التحتٌة لالتصاالت‬
Old model: a monopoly (with regulator)
‫النموذج القدٌم: ملكٌة احتكارٌة، )من قبل الحكومة، شركة‬
( ‫واحدة – مع وجود جهة رقابٌة‬
New model: Competitive (also with regulator)
(‫النموذج االحدث: قطاع خاص تنافسً )مع وجود جهة رقابٌة‬
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16. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Communications ‫االتصاالت‬
- In competitive communication markets:
:ً‫فً سوق اتصاالت تنافس‬
Need for licensing & Regulator (rules?)
‫الحاجة الى تعلٌمات لمنح التراخٌص؟ وتنظٌم الجهة الرقابٌة‬
Need for anti-monopoly legislations? (can be
wider that the communication sector?)
‫الحاجة الى قوانٌن لمكافحة االحتكار؟ )ربما اوسع من قطاع‬
(‫االتصالت‬
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17. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Communications: ‫االتصاالت‬
Good licensing policies can be an
effective tool for:
:‫وضع سٌاسات جٌدة لمنح التراخٌص ٌمكن ان‬
- attracting entry
(‫- زٌادة التنافسٌة )دخول شركات جدٌدة‬
- developing the telecommunications sector
‫- تطوٌر قطاع االتصاالت‬
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18. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Communications Licensing policies can:
- Set the industry structure
- Decide level of competition
- Enhance efficiency of the supply of
telecommunications services
- Remove uncertainty and regulatory risk
for service providers, and their investors
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19. ‫‪ICT & E-government‬‬
‫?‪The implications‬‬
‫• سٌاسات منح التراخٌص لقطاع االتصاالت ٌمكن ان تسهم‬
‫فً:‬
‫تحدٌد هٌكلٌة قطاع االتصاالت‬ ‫-‬
‫تحدٌد مستوى التنافسٌة فً قطاع االتصاالت‬ ‫-‬
‫تحسٌن ورفع كفاءة الخدمات المقدمة فً قطاع االتصاالت‬ ‫-‬
‫ازالة المخاطر الناتجة عن غٌاب الٌقٌن وكذلك اآلتٌة من‬ ‫-‬
‫الجهات الرقابٌة والمنظمة لقطاع االتصاالت‬
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20. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Communications: ‫االتصاالت‬
Competition Problems:
:‫المشاكل الممكن حدوثها نتٌجة التنافس‬
- Refusal to supply facilities
‫- رفض اعطاء تسهٌالت للمنافسٌن‬
- Refusal to interconnect
‫- رفض الربط عبر الشبكات المنافسة‬
- Price wars ‫حروب االسعار‬
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21. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Communications ‫االتصاالت‬
- Need to have a social responsibility:
‫- ٌجب على قطاع االتصاالت ان ٌتحمل مسئولٌاته‬
‫االجتماعٌة‬
*Can the e-government be within
the reach of all citizens?
‫* هل ستصبح الحكومة االلكترونٌة بمتناول جمٌع‬
‫المواطنٌن ؟‬
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22. ICT & E-government
The implications?
• Communications ‫االتصاالت‬
ٍSocial responsibility:
*Must there be a mandatory
obligation to reach all citizens?
‫* هل ٌجب على قطاع االتصاالت تزٌد خدماته لجٌع المواطنٌن‬
**Who is going to pay?
‫** من سٌدفع التكالٌف‬
*Is the consumer protected?
( ‫* هل المستهلك محمً )قانون حماٌة المستهلك‬
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23. Importance of ICT
• United Nations promotes ICT as means to
address the Digital Divide
‫ وسٌلة الغالق ما تسمٌه “الهوة‬ICT ً‫• االمم المتحدة ترى ف‬
:‫الرقمٌة” بٌن الدول الغنٌة والدول الفقٌرة‬
- As ICT promotes new economical development
‫ ٌوفر الفرص لتنمٌة اقتصادٌة جدٌدة‬ICT -
- Third world is in danger of being left behind due
to its weak ICT
ً‫- دول العالم الثالث مهددة بان تصبح مرة اخرى ضحٌة للتخلف التكنولوج‬
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24. Importance of ICT
• EU Commission thinks importance is not
in technologies but ability to give more
access to under-served communities
‫ فرصة العطاء‬ICT ً‫• االتحاد االوروبً ٌرى ف‬
‫المجتمعات المهمشة خدمات متساوٌة‬
- e.g. rural communities can get services
which imply opportunities, that otherwise
will not materialise.
‫- مثال: المجتمعات الرٌفٌة ستحصل على فرص لم ٌكن‬
ICT ‫بمقدورها الحصول علٌها لوال‬
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25. Importance of ICT
• As a result many countries established
organisations to enhance ICT
availability in their countries.
‫• كثٌر من الدول اقامت هٌئات متخصصة لتحسٌن تطبٌق‬
‫ فً بالدهم‬ICT
• UN especially encourages countries to
enhance their ICT.
ICT ‫• االمم المتحدة تشجع كل الدول لتحسٌن قطاع‬
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26. Legal matters of ICT
• Some pre-digital age laws can work
depends on the way it was expressed in.
‫• بعض القوانٌن الموجودة ) من قبل العصر الرقمً( ٌمكن ان‬
ICT ‫تظل مستخدمة لبعض تطبٌقات‬
• But is it acceptable to apply laws on matters
that were not envisaged to be included in
them by the original legislators?
‫• هنا ٌثار السؤال: هل ٌجوز استخدام النصوص القانونٌة لتطبق‬
‫على امور جدٌدة لم ٌتخٌل المشرع وقوعها ؟‬
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27. Legal principles of ICT
• Fast advancements of ICT means that
any law that is specific to a technology
will, probably be obsolete very soon,
hence ICT related laws must be:
Technologically Neutral
‫الحياد تجاه التكنولوجيا‬
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28. Legal principles of ICT
According to UN
• Legal infrastructure:
Key legal and regulatory facilitators for
electronic commerce
- Adherence to law reform principles
such as „technology neutrality‟
- Regulatory structures
- Market liberalization.
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29. ‫‪Legal principles of ICT‬‬
‫‪According to UN‬‬
‫• االطار القانوني‬
‫من االمور القانونٌة االساسٌة )حسب االمم المتحدة( لتأطٌر‬
‫الجهات الرقابٌة و قطاع التجارة االلكترونٌة:‬
‫- االلتزام بمبدأ الحٌاد تجاه التكنولوجٌا‬
‫- تنظٌم الطار القانونً لألجهزة الرقابٌة والتنظٌمٌة‬
‫- زٌادة حرٌات االسواق‬
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30. Legal principles of ICT
According to UN
• Legal certainty: ً‫الٌقٌن القانون‬
The legal status of electronic
communications:
- Forms of contracting, specifically the
need to explicitly recognise the
validity,
- Enforceability and admissibility of
electronic means of executing legal
acts.
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31. Legal principles of ICT
According to UN
• Legal security: ً‫االمان القانون‬
- Examining the security risks inherent in
an electronic environment
- Considers the methods used to
overcome these, in particular the use
of digital signatures and certification
services.
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32. Legal principles of ICT
According to UN
• Legal protection: ‫الحماٌة القانونٌة‬
Includes:
- intellectual property rights and how
such intangible property is protected in
an online environment
- The consumer protection issues which
the Internet raises.
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33. Legal principles of ICT
According to UN
• Legal deterrence: ً‫الردع القانون‬
Examining:
- The development of cybercrime
- The regulatory approaches to
criminalising such harmful conduct
- Ensuring that law enforcement are able
to investigate and prosecute offenders.
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34. ICT applications in Palestine
• What useful applications we have?
• What useful applications we can have?
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35. ICT applications in Palestine
• What useful applications we have?
-ID Cards
-Vehicle licensing
-Law & order agencies
-Civil servants payroll
- etc
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36. ICT applications in Palestine
• What useful applications can we have?
- Education
- Health services
- National archives (e.g. heritage)
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37. ICT applications in World
• Malaysia: mySMS system
The system enables users to receive
information on demand, documents on
demand, and broadcast information
from government agencies, including
emergency information to basic
notifications. The system also allows
users to provide complaints to
government agencies.
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38. ICT applications in World
• Singapore: Mobile government
http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/mobile/
- Citizens and businesses have
expressed a high level of satisfaction
and enjoy the convenience of
accessing more than 300 public
services through mobile technology.
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39. ICT applications in World
• Singapore: Mobile government
http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/mobile/
- The next wave of mobile services planned by the
Singapore Infocomm Development Authority will
support even more 24/7 transactions, including
some that use near field technology to enable
payment of train and bus fares, redemption of e-
coupons, and even the opening of doors with the tap
of a phone against a wireless reader. Commercial
relationships between mobile cellular companies
and network providers help ensure availability of the
requisite technology.
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40. ICT applications in World
• Belgium: My Belgium national portal
http://www.belgium.be
http://www.mybelgium.be
The national portal of Belgium has a link called
My Belgium that is the single point of contact to
government information and services. Over 9
million Belgians have eID cards that allow them
to download authenticated certificates from their
personal file from the MyBelgium portal.
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41. ICT applications in World
• Austria: Gender equality website
http://www.frauen.bka.gv.at
Austria has a website that supports gender
equality. It provides information about current
government initiatives such as „Equal pay and
revenue transparency for women‟ and the „New
Child‟ law. The website promotes a programme
provides parents with additional income during
the first 14 months of the child‟s life, supporting
mothers, fathers and single parents during
difficult economic times.
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42. ICT applications in World
• Germany: Children Education Tools website
http://www.bundesregierung.de/
http://www.regierenkapieren.de/
The national portal of Germany has a link off the
homepage to a website for children to learn how
their government works, Regierenkapieren. It
has tabs for interactive features titled such as
‟discover‟, „games‟ and „questions‟ and a daily
news section. It captures the children‟s attention
and gives them a better understanding of the
process of government.
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43. ICT applications in World
• Algeria: H1N1 National Hotline
http://www.ands.dz/
On the national portal of Algeria there is a link
titled “Alerte Grippe Porcine”, for the H1N1
(birds) flu. The feature takes the user to a portal
page with a specific section for health care
professionals along with resources for citizens
with links to information and medical resources,
a new telephone hot line number, audios from
radio spots sharing information on symptoms to
watch for and hygiene protocol, and weekly
health newsletters have been archived.
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44. ICT applications in World
• Bahrain: Web 2.0 http://www.bahrain.bh/
The Bahrain e-government program has embraced the Web
2.0 to reach its customers.
Ministers and senior government officials have established an
opendoor policy to interact with citizens. The e-government
program has its presence on social networking sites such as
Facebook and You Tube. In addition, the national portal and
ministry websites provide features such as open forums,
blogs, live chats, online polls, e-newsletters and other
interactive services that involve citizens in government
decision making.
• For instance, two of the ministers and the CEO of the e-
Government Authority have interacted with citizens through
such blogs.
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45. ICT applications in World
• United States: Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov
The SSA portal receives a high number of repeat
customers and has become one of the primary
resources for information on social services in the United
States. The SSA portal has continued to make
improvements to respond to customers‟ needs, which
has led to an increase in loyalty and cost savings.
Examples Source: The United Nations E-Government Survey 2010
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46. ICT applications anywhere
In simple words:
Any government ICT application that can:
• Empower citizens
• Provide better services
• Increase prosperity
• Achieve more transparency
• Reach the less-advantaged sectors of the society
is a good ICT application.
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47. References
• The United Nations E-Government Survey 2010
• **United Nations Economic Commission for Europe,
“Information and Communication Technology Policy and Legal
Issues for Central Asia - Guide for ICT Policymakers”, UNITED
NATIONS New York and Geneva, 2007.
• eGovernment Electronic Communications, Omar Dhaher
Presentation, CRIDS, Namur University, 2011
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48. Session End
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