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This high trust level is rooted in transparency: every citizen can review detailed logs of who accessed their data and when. The system’s integrity is bolstered by the fact that Estonia’s government does not see or scrape personal data, unlike some countries, where governments collect vast amounts of information through everyday digital interactions without explicit awareness.
The Origins of Estonia's Digital Leap
Estonia's journey toward e-governance began in the aftermath of Soviet rule, as the nation struggled to rebuild its independence and economy. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, a former Estonian president and architect of the digital initiative, recounts how Estonia’s government embraced the internet early on.