Blockchain Technology and E-Government

Version	Summary	Created by	Modification	Content Size	Created at	Operation
1		Hafez Ali Barghouthi	--	2039	2023-08-04 16:12:47	\|
2	layout	Jessie Wu	Meta information modification	2039	2023-08-07 07:03:00	\|

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/app13148463

The field of electronic government (e-government) is gaining prominence in contemporary society, as it has a significant influence on the wider populace within the context of a technologically advanced world. E-government makes use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) at various levels and domains within government agencies and the public sector. ICT reduces manual labour, potential fraud points, errors, and process lapses. The Internet’s quick accessibility and the widespread adoption of modern technologies and disciplines, such as big data, the Internet of Things, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, have accelerated the need for e-government.

e-government blockchain technology data integrity documents auditing OCR

1. Introduction

E-government is a method of delivering government services through the use of information and communication technology (ICT) applications ^[1]^[2]. The concept of e-government refers to the development of information technology infrastructure within governmental institutions. Thus, facilitating immediate access to public data and enhancing public services ^[3]. Moreover, it offers various platforms and channels of communication for companies, agencies of government, as well as individuals, enabling their individual and collective interactions ^[4]. As a result, it is possible for individuals to acquire all notifications and documentation related to administrative procedures, with the exception of data that may have an impact on national security and confidential state matters. Therefore, there is a need for increased transparency and credibility in governmental transactions, as well as a greater assurance of safeguarding individual rights ^[2].

Furthermore, the implementation of e-government has been shown to efficiently reduce the expenditure of both time and financial resources in the assigned tasks, thereby contributing to the effective management of civil services and the promotion of economic growth ^[2]. In other words, labour and manual effort are the primary sources of gaps in the traditional government system, as any typo or misplacement of important paperwork can put the owner at risk ^[5]. Hence, in conventional systems, it is imperative to put pressure on employees to concentrate on all aspects of their work. As per the given context, performing manual labour demands greater exertion and a larger physical area for managing records on paper ^[5].

Moreover, conventional systems provide an ideal environment for fraudulent activities and the act of forging. They permit duplicate data entry; there is no assurance of the integrity of the documents and the written data ^[5]. The implementation of an electronic system instead of the conventional paper-based system is expected to result in a reduction in the workforce, leading to a decrease in both mistakes in typing and security risks, as well as operating expenses ^[2].

2. Contributions of Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is a distributed digital ledger containing segments of cryptographically signed transactions in blocks. After undergoing confirmation and a consensus decision, each block is cryptographically connected to the preceding block (making it tamper-proof). As new blocks are inserted, it becomes increasingly difficult to modify older blocks, producing tamper resistance. New blocks are replicated across multiple instances of the distributed ledger within the structure of the network, and any disagreements are settled automatically using predetermined rules ^[6]^[7].

In the past few years, a substantial body of literature has developed around the idea of blockchain; its popularity is primarily attributable to the following features:

Decentralisation: Transactions in systems that operate on separate or clustered servers are centralised and require the participation of a third party. The third party is entrusted with sending requests to the system’s server(s) and waiting for a response. If a single server goes offline, the entire system will fail, creating a single point of failure ^[8]. Additionally, in centralised systems, all authorities are dependent on a single entity’s decisions. Consequently, decisions will take longer. Using the peer-to-peer network, blockchain was able to resolve these issues. The e-government system is a prime example of a centralised system that must be improved to provide better and quicker services ^[9].
Immutability: The blockchain employs cryptographic hashes that cannot be reverse-engineered. In other terms, the blockchain’s transaction history is immutable, permanent, and unalterable ^[10]. Immutability is one of the primary benefits of blockchain features that could aid in the reduction in corruption in government.
Transparency: Blockchain transactions are public, traceable, and available to anybody with access ^[11].

Blockchain technology has been effectively applied in a variety of settings ^[12]. Many governments throughout the world are launching blockchain-based projects and have altered, proposed, or revised legislation to accommodate this new technology in various situations. According to IBM, 70% of healthcare professionals believe the application of blockchain will have the greatest impact on the industry. As a result of this technology, clinical trial management will improve, regulatory compliance will be ensured, and a decentralised platform for sharing electronic health records will be created (EHR) ^[13]. Furthermore, the application of blockchain in the agri-food supply chain can assure comprehensive food traceability, support market prices, protect the rights of employees, reduce the influence of supply chain intermediaries, and provide incentive systems to stimulate the growth of environmentally friendly initiatives ^[14]^[15]. Additionally, numerous academic studies on the use of blockchain technology in energy commerce ^[16]^[17], demand response programmes for microgrids ^[18]^[19], as well as peer-to-peer networks have been published ^[20]^[21]. Therefore, blockchain can facilitate the development of renewable energy sources ^[22]. Moreover, one of the most prominent applications of blockchain technology is protecting data privacy in various Internet of Things (IoT) domains, such as ^[23]^[24].

By achieving high levels of traceability, accountability, security, and high-quality services, governments employ such initiatives in an effort to earn the public’s trust ^[25]. For instance, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has adopted a number of Ethereum blockchain solutions in conjunction with distributed storage systems for data to avoid corruption and offer safe digital identity management ^[26]. OpenDChain is a blockchain-based application example developed in Spain ^[26]. This application intends to publish the datasets on the municipal website, which is accessible to the public. The Canadian government also hosts its blockchain explorer on the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) network, which enables users to seek for contribution and grant data ^[26].

Presently, various extant research papers demonstrate the significance of implementing blockchain technology. Fallucchi et al. ^[26] introduced an Ethereum blockchain-based framework for IPFS-based decentralised applications. This framework is employed for verification of documents without a requirement for a third party or a centralised organisation, with the assurance of its ownership and immutability. The implementation of this framework enables the organisation to disseminate its documentation, including financial reports, on the network with a high degree of transparency and at a low cost. Lacity and Van Hoek ^[27] demonstrate Walmart Canada’s blockchain-based invoice processing solution. In this solution, the percentage of disputed invoices is reduced from 70 to 2%, and the processing duration is shortened from days and weeks to 24 h. As a consequence of this reduction, the cost goes down and the connection and communication are strengthened.

Rasool et al. ^[28] introduced DocsChain, an OCR and blockchain-based solution that enables the issuance and validation of degrees. OCR can capture the data on the degree and convert it to a machine-readable format. The documents were subjected to a hashing algorithm and the Proof of Existence (PoE) protocol was employed for the purpose of document retrieval ^[29]. Conversely, making use of physical documents may result in a compromise of their integrity. The authors of ^[30] proposed a solution for document verification that employs an integration of blockchain, optical character recognition (OCR), digital signatures, and two-dimensional (2D) bar-code technologies. The experiment yielded a remarkable 100 percent accuracy. In the second stage of the trial, all methodologies were combined. To accomplish this, fresh pages were generated, the verification text was included, and the barcode at the bottom of the documents was appended. The integration of these technology combinations, along with the implementation of a validation process, facilitates the identification of any alterations made to documents.

Das et al. ^[31] proposed a framework for securing Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) projects. The first part of this framework is a smart contract utilising blockchain technology for the document certification process. The second part is a blockchain-based protected ledger data paradigm for auditing and controlling irrevocable documents (altered records). The third component is a modified Merkle–Patrick Trie (MPT)-based document version history data structure. In addition, Nizamuddin et al. ^[32] presented a solution for the online publication of digital content such as books. This framework’s primary objective was to address the challenge of authorship and originality for online consumers. IPFS was used to store content, and blockchain smart contracts were used to monitor and manage content versions.

Alketbi et al. ^[33] proposed a novel blockchain paradigm that governments could use to develop a blockchain ecosystem for the provision of public services. The authors of this research have developed the blockchain model by conducting an inquiry into permissioned blockchain platforms and examining a use case for blockchain-enabled home rentals that has been implemented by the Dubai government. The outcomes of the suggested blockchain framework encompass a blockchain governance framework, a delineation of participants and their corresponding duties, and a network architectural template that specifies the diverse installation alternatives and their component elements. Additionally, the authors analyse the security and performance of the model, along with its lifecycle and blockchain services. The article additionally examines various instances of government usage of blockchain technology through the implementation of evidence of concept or prototypes. The study was founded on the design of Hyperledger Fabric, and the findings indicate the platform’s pertinence to government services and use cases. The analysis of Hyperledger Fabric also entails the identification of the platform’s actors, services, procedures, and data structure.

Páez et al. ^[34] presented a proposed framework for an electronic identification document (e-ID) system that utilises Blockchain technology and biometric authentication. The Electronic Identification (E-ID) system is utilised to authenticate individuals in various transactions such as notarial services, registration, tax declaration and payment transactions, basic health services, and recording business activities. The proposed method for validating transactions was developed utilising a blockchain framework to monitor and verify all transactions executed by individuals registered in the electoral registry. This approach guarantees security, consistency, expandability, traceability, and clarity. Furthermore, the study presents a blockchain network structure that is distributed and decentralised, encompassing all network nodes, databases, and government entities such as national registries and notarial offices.

Yavuz et al. ^[35] employed Ethereum wallets and the Solidity programming language to develop and evaluate a sample e-voting system as a smart contract for the Ethereum network. The feasibility of enabling Android platform users who do not possess Ethereum wallets to participate in voting is currently under discussion. The electoral data pertaining to ballots and votes shall be stored on the Ethereum blockchain subsequent to the conduct of an election. The collective agreement among Ethereum nodes is responsible for processing voting requests, which can be initiated by users via an Android device or directly from their Ethereum wallets. This agreement provides an open platform for electronic voting and investigates the dependability and efficacy of blockchain-based electronic voting systems in depth. Their application is limited to small-scale voting systems, so new problems may arise in larger systems.

Zhang et al. ^[36] suggested the theoretical basis and benefits of blockchain technology for managing and distributing government information. They also went into more detail about the blockchain-based solution. In addition, they developed a blockchain-based architecture for sharing government information and providing technical and administrative implementation techniques. The outcome was a framework for analysing government and user interaction with information. Moreover, this model of government information-sharing facilitates the provision of transparency in the distribution of government information. In addition, this initiative facilitates the development and enhancement of information sharing capabilities within the government, providing a standardised information-sharing framework for e-government across various departments and regions.

Despite the numerous benefits demonstrated by previous studies and research, all of them can fail or lose their advantages if implemented to a different field. This research works on a radical and general solution to manage and store any incoming document in a blockchain network regardless of domain or business context. The amount of human intervention required to save the uploaded transaction document is minimised. Everything else is administered exclusively by the SECHash model. As a consequence of utilising the model, both human error and voluntary document modification are complicated processes. Moreover, because the documents are hashed, any modification requires new fragmentation calculations. Thus, the system architecture automates the data entry process with OCR technology and implements data integration with blockchain technology.

References

Malodia, S.; Dhir, A.; Mishra, M.; Bhatti, Z.A. Future of e-Government: An integrated conceptual framework. Technol. Forecast. Soc. Chang. 2021, 173, 121102.
Ndou, D. E-Government for Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges. EJISDC Electron. J. Inf. Syst. Dev. Ctries. 2004, 18, 1–24.
Farida, I.; Setiawan, R.; Maryatmi, A.; Juwita, N. The Implementation of E-Government in the Industrial Revolution Era 4.0 in Indonesia. Int. J. Progress. Sci. Technol. 2020, 22, 340–346.
Carter, L.; Yoon, V.; Liu, D. Analyzing e-government design science artifacts: A systematic literature review. Int. J. Inf. Manag. 2022, 62, 102430.
Vasconez, J.P.; Kantor, G.A.; Auat Cheein, F.A. Human–robot interaction in agriculture: A survey and current challenges. Biosyst. Eng. 2019, 179, 35–48.
Ammous, S. Blockchain Technology: What is it Good for? SSRN Electron. J. 2016, 2832751.
Ali Laghari, A.; Wu, K.; Ali Laghari, R.; Ali, M.; Ayub Khan, A. A Review and State of Art of Internet of Things (IoT). Arch. Comput. Methods Eng. 2021, 29, 1395–1413.
Fareed, R.; Kamal, Z.A. E-government based on the blockchain technology, and the evaluation of its transaction through the number of transactions completed per second. Period. Eng. Nat. Sci. 2022, 10, 620–631.
Hoang, V.H.; Lehtihet, E.; Ghamri-Doudane, Y. Privacy-preserving blockchain-based data sharing platform for decentralized storage systems. In Proceedings of the 2020 IFIP Networking Conference (Networking), Paris, France, 22–25 June 2020; pp. 280–288.
Feng, W. Blockchain Bills of Lading and Their Future Regulation; NUS: Singapore, 2021.
Balan, A.; Alboaie, S.; Kourtit, K.; Nijkamp, P. Transparency and Accountability in Urban Public Procurement: Design of a Self-Sovereign Blockchain APP. Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote. Sens. Spat. Inf. Sci. 2020, 44, 9–16.
Abou Jaoude, J.; Saade, R.G. Blockchain applications–usage in different domains. IEEE Access 2019, 7, 45360–45381.
Hasselgren, A.; Kralevska, K.; Gligoroski, D.; Pedersen, S.A.; Faxvaag, A. Blockchain in healthcare and health sciences—A scoping review. Int. J. Med. Inform. 2020, 134, 104040.
Mirabelli, G.; Solina, V. Blockchain-based solutions for agri-food supply chains: A survey. Int. J. Simul. Process. Model. 2021, 17, 1–15.
Bisht, D.; Singh, R.; Gehlot, A.; Akram, S.V.; Singh, A.; Montero, E.C.; Priyadarshi, N.; Twala, B. Imperative Role of Integrating Digitalization in the Firms Finance: A Technological Perspective. Electronics 2022, 11, 3252.
Jiang, A.; Yuan, H.; Li, D. A two-stage optimization approach on the decisions for prosumers and consumers within a community in the Peer-to-peer energy sharing trading. Int. J. Electr. Power Energy Syst. 2021, 125, 106527.
Tushar, W.; Saha, T.K.; Yuen, C.; Azim, M.I.; Morstyn, T.; Poor, H.V.; Niyato, D.; Bean, R. A coalition formation game framework for peer-to-peer energy trading. Appl. Energy 2020, 261, 114436.
Borowski, P.F. Zonal and Nodal Models of energy market in European Union. Energies 2020, 13, 4182.
Lan, T.; Jermsittiparsert, K.; Alrashood, S.T.; Rezaei, M.; Al-Ghussain, L.; Mohamed, M.A. An advanced machine learning based energy management of renewable microgrids considering hybrid electric vehicles’ charging demand. Energies 2021, 14, 569.
Wang, S.; Taha, A.F.; Wang, J.; Kvaternik, K.; Hahn, A. Energy crowdsourcing and peer-to-peer energy trading in blockchain-enabled smart grids. IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Syst. 2019, 49, 1612–1623.
Tushar, W.; Yuen, C.; Saha, T.K.; Morstyn, T.; Chapman, A.C.; Alam, M.J.E.; Hanif, S.; Poor, H.V. Peer-to-peer energy systems for connected communities: A review of recent advances and emerging challenges. Appl. Energy 2021, 282, 116131.
Wang, Q.; Su, M. Integrating blockchain technology into the energy sector—from theory of blockchain to research and application of energy blockchain. Comput. Sci. Rev. 2020, 37, 100275.
Nicolazzo, S.; Nocera, A.; Ursinoc, D.; Virgilic, L. A privacy-preserving approach to prevent feature disclosure in an IoT scenario. Future Gener. Comput. Syst. 2020, 105, 502–519.
Corradini, E.; Nicolazzo, S.; Nocera, A.; Domenico, U.; Luca, V. A two-tier Blockchain framework to increase protection and autonomy of smart objects in the IoT. Future Gener. Comput. Syst. 2022, 181, 338–356.
D’Hauwers, R.; Van Der Bank, J.; Montakhabi, M. Trust, transparency and security in the sharing economy: What is the Government’s role? Technol. Innov. Manag. Rev. 2020, 10, 5–17.
Fallucchi, F.; Gerardi, M.; Petito, M.; De Luca, E.W. Blockchain Framework in Digital Government for the Certification of Authenticity, Timestamping and Data Property; University of Hawaii Manoa Library: Honolulu, HI, USA, 2021.
Lacity, M.C.; Van Hoek, R. How Walmart Canada used blockchain technology to reimagine freight invoice processing. MIS Q. Exec. 2021, 20, 5.
Rasool, S.; Saleem, A.; Iqbal, M.; Dagiuklas, T.; Mumtaz, S. Docschain: Blockchain-based IoT solution for verification of degree documents. IEEE Trans. Comput. Soc. Syst. 2020, 7, 827–837.
Perera, T.; Hettige, S.P.T.; Jayatilake, S.A.; Abeygunawardhana, W.; Bandara, H.D. Blockchain-based product traceability beyond proof of existence. In Proceedings of the 2020 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon), Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 28–30 July 2020; pp. 1–6.
Mthethwa, S.; Dlamini, N.; Barbour, G. Proposing a blockchain-based solution to verify the integrity of hardcopy documents. In Proceedings of the 2018 International Conference on Intelligent and Innovative Computing Applications (ICONIC), Plaine Magnien, Mauritius, 6–7 December 2018; pp. 1–5.
Das, M.; Tao, X.; Liu, Y.; Cheng, J.C. A blockchain-based integrated document management framework for construction applications. Autom. Constr. 2022, 133, 104001.
Nizamuddin, N.; Hasan, H.R.; Salah, K. IPFS-Blockchain-Based Authenticity of Online Publications. In Blockchain—ICBC 2018; Chen, S., Wang, H., Zhang, L.J., Eds.; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2018; pp. 199–212.
Alketbi, A.; Nasir, Q.; Abu Talib, M. Novel blockchain reference model for government services: Dubai government case study. Int. J. Syst. Assur. Eng. Manag. 2020, 11, 1170–1191.
Páez, R.V.; Pérez Cerquera, M.; Ramírez, G.; Montes, J.; Bouvarel, L. An Architecture for Biometric Electronic Identification Document System Based on Blockchain. Future Internet 2020, 12, 10.
Yavuz, E.; Koç, A.K.; Çabuk, U.C.; Dalkılıç, G. Towards secure e-voting using ethereum blockchain. In Proceedings of the 2018 6th International Symposium on Digital Forensic and Security (ISDFS), Antalya, Turkey, 22–25 March 2018; pp. 1–7.
Zhang, Y.; Deng, S.; Zhang, Y.; Kong, J. Research on Government Information Sharing Model Using Blockchain Technology. In Proceedings of the 2019 10th International Conference on Information Technology in Medicine and Education (ITME), Qingdao, China, 23–25 August 2019; pp. 726–729.

© Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Upload a video for this entry

Information

Subjects: Others

Contributors MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :

Fatima Azzam

Mariam Jaber

Amany Saies

Tareq Kirresh

Ruba Awadallah

Abdallah Karakra

Hafez Barghouthi

Saleh Amarneh

View Times: 281

Update Date: 07 Aug 2023

Table of Contents

Video Upload Options

Confirm

1. Introduction

2. Contributions of Blockchain Technology

References