Today, with the rapid advancement of technology, the use of digital signatures is gaining momentum worldwide, particularly in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. However, over 50% of adults in Mongolia have digital signatures but do not use them.
In other words, 1.2 million citizens have yet to find a way to utilize their digital signatures. Issues such as insufficient technological infrastructure and numerous regulations emerging within the legal framework are confusing users.
To address these issues, a discussion titled "Solution-Oriented Meeting - Digital Signature" was held on October 15. Ts.Baatarkhuu, Minister of Digital Development and Communications, emphasized during the meeting, "We aim to improve the legal environment to enhance the use of digital signatures in government, reduce the number of regulations, make them more efficient, and incorporate international standards into domestic regulations. The government will also take the lead in promoting the use of digital signatures."
In fact, the digital signature has been integrated into electronic services such as government procurement and official documentation, as well as special permit applications. However, digital signatures are only utilized on sites like egazar.mn, tender.gov.mn, ndaatgal.mn, immigration.gov.mn, and docx.gov.mn. Private companies only use digital signatures when participating in tenders.
Therefore, to promote the use of digital signatures, the government has decided to take the lead in implementing the "Paperless Governance" initiative. Under this program, ministries have begun exchanging documents electronically.
E.Baldansambuu, Senior Specialist at the Cybersecurity Policy Implementation Coordination Office of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications, stated, "We are working to enable citizens to use digital signatures with their mobile phones and increase their usage. Today, just as citizens receive loans and bank services via their phones, they can also use their digital signatures to conduct business and enter into contracts in the social realm. Additionally, we are discussing connecting to other systems to incorporate digital signatures and gain international recognition."
Mongolia enacted the Digital Signature Law in 2011 and began issuing them to businesses in 2015. To increase usage and accelerate digital transformation, the Parliament approved a revised version of this law during the autumn session of 2021, updating the legal framework. However, H.Anu, CEO of MonPass LLC, noted that many regulations and guidelines that follow this law are not aligned, causing confusion among users. He said, "The government and other regulatory bodies have different rules and regulations. If these are not interconnected, users are left confused, leading them to revert to traditional signatures." This was discussed during the "Solution-Oriented Meeting."
Conditions have been created for banks and financial institutions to use digital signatures. However, the Bank of Mongolia and the Financial Regulatory Commission still require paper documentation. Participants at the discussion called for the digitalization of these processes and the practical implementation of digital signatures.
There are also questions about whether contracts executed with digital signatures are valid in court. Within the current legal environment, there is a need to address this issue in the General Procedures for Official Documentation. By doing so, it would ensure the validity of digital signatures before judicial authorities. Additionally, they are studying how to archive digital versions.
Today, with the rapid advancement of technology, the use of digital signatures is gaining momentum worldwide, particularly in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. However, over 50% of adults in Mongolia have digital signatures but do not use them.
In other words, 1.2 million citizens have yet to find a way to utilize their digital signatures. Issues such as insufficient technological infrastructure and numerous regulations emerging within the legal framework are confusing users.
To address these issues, a discussion titled "Solution-Oriented Meeting - Digital Signature" was held on October 15. Ts.Baatarkhuu, Minister of Digital Development and Communications, emphasized during the meeting, "We aim to improve the legal environment to enhance the use of digital signatures in government, reduce the number of regulations, make them more efficient, and incorporate international standards into domestic regulations. The government will also take the lead in promoting the use of digital signatures."
In fact, the digital signature has been integrated into electronic services such as government procurement and official documentation, as well as special permit applications. However, digital signatures are only utilized on sites like egazar.mn, tender.gov.mn, ndaatgal.mn, immigration.gov.mn, and docx.gov.mn. Private companies only use digital signatures when participating in tenders.
Therefore, to promote the use of digital signatures, the government has decided to take the lead in implementing the "Paperless Governance" initiative. Under this program, ministries have begun exchanging documents electronically.
E.Baldansambuu, Senior Specialist at the Cybersecurity Policy Implementation Coordination Office of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications, stated, "We are working to enable citizens to use digital signatures with their mobile phones and increase their usage. Today, just as citizens receive loans and bank services via their phones, they can also use their digital signatures to conduct business and enter into contracts in the social realm. Additionally, we are discussing connecting to other systems to incorporate digital signatures and gain international recognition."
Mongolia enacted the Digital Signature Law in 2011 and began issuing them to businesses in 2015. To increase usage and accelerate digital transformation, the Parliament approved a revised version of this law during the autumn session of 2021, updating the legal framework. However, H.Anu, CEO of MonPass LLC, noted that many regulations and guidelines that follow this law are not aligned, causing confusion among users. He said, "The government and other regulatory bodies have different rules and regulations. If these are not interconnected, users are left confused, leading them to revert to traditional signatures." This was discussed during the "Solution-Oriented Meeting."
Conditions have been created for banks and financial institutions to use digital signatures. However, the Bank of Mongolia and the Financial Regulatory Commission still require paper documentation. Participants at the discussion called for the digitalization of these processes and the practical implementation of digital signatures.
There are also questions about whether contracts executed with digital signatures are valid in court. Within the current legal environment, there is a need to address this issue in the General Procedures for Official Documentation. By doing so, it would ensure the validity of digital signatures before judicial authorities. Additionally, they are studying how to archive digital versions.