Currently, the States are making intensive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the extent of their possibilities to make their «Governments» and their respective ways of governing, more efficient and effective public mechanisms, often under schemes known as Electronic Government or Open Government.
Within this global government movement, Free Software is of fundamental importance, not only from the feasibility of faster and more transparent ways of doing things, but from a more secure and private perspective in the field of information security. .
Sectors such as governments, which now seek to approach their respective citizens to give them the opportunity to know what happens in their respective public management, in a transparent, participatory, collaborative, accessible, practical and technologically more advanced way, use free software.
In carrying out projects and implementations, governments have opted for free software developments, which meet certain requirements to make their internal developments feasible and most likely that these software are for exclusive use.
But what is the Electronic Government?
It is the governmental management model that implies the application of ICTs to the functioning of the public sector, with the objective of providing better services to the citizen and increasing efficiency, transparency and citizen participation.
Benefits of Free Software as a State Public Policy:
- Contribute to the strengthening of Technological Independence
- Increase standards in the field of Government Information Security.
- Improve the compatibility and interoperability of the information systems managed.
- Facilitate universal long-term access to citizens.
- Preserve Digital Heritage effectively
- Develop opportunity for growth and local development in technological matters.
- Achieve long-term economic savings in licensing, maintenance and software updates.
The use of free software as a State Public Policy, is not only a matter of fashion or costs, but it is a fundamental element for the construction of the current emerging models of Open or Electronic Government so that citizens feel confident that they comply with reliable and safe use parameters for all.
