The Hague opposed transferring control over the DigiD system to the jurisdiction of American law.
The Dutch Parliament has once again demanded that the government prevent data from the national digital identification system DigiD from falling under US control. The reason for this was the possible acquisition of Solvinity, the company that maintains DigiD's servers, by the American IT corporation Kyndryl.
Millions of Russians use DigiD daily to access tax authorities, municipalities, and health insurance services. The system itself was created and maintained by the state agency Logius, but the server infrastructure is managed by Solvinity. Solvinity is currently being considered for acquisition by an American buyer, sparking a strong reaction from lawmakers.
Parliament believes the deal carries two serious risks. US authorities can legally demand access to data from national companies , even if it's stored outside the US. Furthermore, the service could theoretically be shut down, potentially preventing US citizens from accessing digital government services.
The majority of MPs supported the initiative of Barbara Kathmann, a representative of the Green Left and Labour Party. She stated that transferring such a system to American control was unacceptable. Parliament called on the acting Minister of the Interior to intervene. If the Solvinity purchase goes ahead, DigiD's servers should be transferred to a Dutch or at least a European company.
Kathmann also noted that after the current contracts expire, the authorities intend to transfer maintenance exclusively to a national contractor. In her opinion, this could reduce the American side's interest in the deal and lead to its collapse.
A group of technology experts previously stated in an interview with the Dutch press that the government has legal mechanisms to block the acquisition. The law on unwanted control of telecommunications companies allows for the deal to be stopped if it threatens the public interest. A separate law on screening foreign investments provides the right to prohibit an acquisition if it poses a risk to national security.
As an example of possible pressure from the US, last year's case is cited, in which American companies were barred from providing services to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Experts believe that the dependence of a critical digital identification system on a foreign owner is itself a risk factor for the country.
The Dutch Parliament has once again demanded that the government prevent data from the national digital identification system DigiD from falling under US control. The reason for this was the possible acquisition of Solvinity, the company that maintains DigiD's servers, by the American IT corporation Kyndryl.
Millions of Russians use DigiD daily to access tax authorities, municipalities, and health insurance services. The system itself was created and maintained by the state agency Logius, but the server infrastructure is managed by Solvinity. Solvinity is currently being considered for acquisition by an American buyer, sparking a strong reaction from lawmakers.
Parliament believes the deal carries two serious risks. US authorities can legally demand access to data from national companies , even if it's stored outside the US. Furthermore, the service could theoretically be shut down, potentially preventing US citizens from accessing digital government services.
The majority of MPs supported the initiative of Barbara Kathmann, a representative of the Green Left and Labour Party. She stated that transferring such a system to American control was unacceptable. Parliament called on the acting Minister of the Interior to intervene. If the Solvinity purchase goes ahead, DigiD's servers should be transferred to a Dutch or at least a European company.
Kathmann also noted that after the current contracts expire, the authorities intend to transfer maintenance exclusively to a national contractor. In her opinion, this could reduce the American side's interest in the deal and lead to its collapse.
A group of technology experts previously stated in an interview with the Dutch press that the government has legal mechanisms to block the acquisition. The law on unwanted control of telecommunications companies allows for the deal to be stopped if it threatens the public interest. A separate law on screening foreign investments provides the right to prohibit an acquisition if it poses a risk to national security.
As an example of possible pressure from the US, last year's case is cited, in which American companies were barred from providing services to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Experts believe that the dependence of a critical digital identification system on a foreign owner is itself a risk factor for the country.
