Changes in the mObywatel application, more widespread access to the Internet. The first announcements by the new Minister of Digital Affairs

We didn’t have to wait long for the new Minister of Digital Affairs in the Civic Coalition government to deal with the topic of the mObywatel application, which helps millions of Poles deal with official matters online every day. Krzysztof Gawkowski, who has been serving not only as minister but also as vice-president of the Council of Ministers since December 11, announced further development of the mObywatel service and improvement of the situation with Internet access among Poles.

And although we will have to wait for slightly more specific information on this first issue, we have learned that the goal of the Ministry of Digital Affairs in the coming years is to make the most important government application even more common. Let us recall that Mateusz Morawiecki, in his farewell expose as Prime Minister, said last Monday that the mObywatel application has already been downloaded by Poles nearly 10 million times.

The Ministry of Liquidation wants to liquidate the so-called White stains

As Krzysztof Gawkowski announced, white spots on the map of Poland, i.e. places without guaranteed access to the Internet, are to be eliminated as much as possible during the term of office of this government. According to the new Minister of Digital Affairs, Internet access in the 21st century should be a standard, not a luxury, and he means that broadband will become much more common in Poland, guaranteeing fast and reliable access to the global network.

– The idea that optical fiber should be available at high speed to all Polish citizens will accompany us this term, and the Ministry of Digital Affairs will certainly do everything to expand the state infrastructure for Internet access and make it available. – said Krzysztof Gawkowski during the press conference.

Minister of Digital Affairs on Internet giants

Krzysztof Gawkowski also touched on the topic of the world’s largest companies in the new technology industry and the extent to which they should influence the everyday functioning of millions of Poles. The minister is of the opinion that we should not succumb to pressure from the lobby for the services of technology giants.

– If someone believes that there will be a place for digital lobbying in this ministry, and that it will be possible to conduct something called the management of large corporations, and that these little guys have no rights, then I want to reverse this doctrine. Now the smaller ones are to have the greatest voting rights – said Minister Gawkowski during the conference.

Digitization in Poland in the most important numbers

The mObywatel application has already been downloaded nearly 10 million times, the trusted profile is used by over 16 million users, and the Online Patient Account was used by over 17 million patients by June 2023. Poles willingly use electronic PIT settlements, e-prescriptions, and online sick leaves.