Belgium’s digital trust relies on a second pillar, MyGov
MyGov is not just a portal, it is the foundation of a public digital identity, interoperable with European standards (eIDAS) and ready to be integrated into the European Digital Identity Wallet in the future.
A digital identity wallet containing all administrative documents and procedures. MyGov includes the Belgian government authentication system and the digital ID card, which will soon have the same value as the one that every Belgian citizen carries in their wallet. “With Mygov.be, Belgium is among the most advanced countries in terms of public digital services,” says Mathieu Michel, federal deputy and project leader.
Government alternative
A second Itsme? Same features, yes. This means you can connect securely to government services such as Tax-on-Web and My eBox… but from an app managed by the Belgian government. The government’s alternative to the private Itsme solution was already known: this decision was made three years ago following concerns about the independence of Itsme, which could fall into the hands of a foreign company.
The availability date for this alternative was unknown, but it is now a reality. The alternative to Itsme has been integrated into the MyGov.be app (for Android and iOS) since mid-October. MyGov is also similar to Itsme in terms of functionality. To connect to government services with MyGov, simply scan the QR code and confirm with your PIN. You can also connect to MyGov in various other ways.
Itsme and MyGov, two complementary pillars of digital trust
This additional step is not insignificant: it confirms the maturity of a vision and the realization of an ambition. “On a personal level,” continues Mathieu Michel, “I fought, often against the wind of lobbying, to bring this project to fruition. Today, I am happy to see it moving further towards the vision I had for it. It’s nice to see the fruits of the seeds we planted ripening. “
MyGov.be is the public counterpart to Itsme. But it is also an essential backup solution in the event of failure of private solutions, whether economic or strategic.
MyGov is based on a sovereign infrastructure, managed by the state, and designed to bring together citizens’ interactions with the administration, official documents, communications, payments, procedures, etc.
