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Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
221–230 of 246 posts
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#222Earlier quoted context omitted.
The voters don't always deal the cards favorably for the coalition system. Compared to a 2 or 3 party system, I think I still prefer the coalitions though as it forces them to negotiate
Yeah, but this time the coalition negotiations were rather dirty. The largest party and therefore most likely prime minister was the most progressive of the centrist parties (D66) and would normally want to work with the moderate left-wing labour party (GLPvdA, now PRO), but the most conservative of the centrist parties (VVD) banned them from negotiations, and preferred one of the right-wing/racist parties (Ja21) ins…
It does look like Jetten was too much of an optimist. Thinking he will just get some things done if only he gets a coalition together...
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#223Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe better, but less useful. I don't carry my Identity Card at all, unless I cross the border within EU where it is used. All other functions I have in our country app. To which I can log in using physical card, but I have other options that are online.
In the Netherlands it is mandatory to carry your ID card or passport at all times.
Not true. You have to be able identify yourself on the street in case the police wants to talk to you. A driver’s license is also valid identification.
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#224> "The politicization of this process has overshadowed the clear and important benefits this transaction would have brought to Solvinity's customers and Dutch citizens." That is unbelievably rich. It's politicians job to protect the privacy and interests of its citizens. Must be a strange idea for the US these days.
I think they should point out the “clear and important benefits” they’d bring. Corporate PR is fucking hollow.
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#225Earlier quoted context omitted.
Germany as well
What are the penalties for not doing so? I'm always amazed at the willingness of Europeans to follow rules like these, regardless of their impact on personal sovereignty. People in Finland were the most extreme example of this behavior that I've ever encountered. People would look like you murdered a child for jaywalking in Helsinki.
It's a nothing burger really. I have a card wallet for bank passes, transport cards and the id thingy. Not a single cop ever stopped me (I'm not in the usual suspect demographics, so that helps), so I didn't have to show it ever in 7 years. I imagine I would have a different attitude if cops did actually ask for it for no reason.
I however heard about things like riding a bicycle without lights and being fined 50 bucks for that, which triggers asking for an id, which in it's turn triggers a 100 euro fine on top. In the story I heard the second fine wasn't actually given.
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#226Earlier quoted context omitted.
For some of functionality, DigiD itself requires an iOS or Android app (for which you need to enter a contractual agreement with either Apple or Google and they decide whether you are allowed to install and use the app). I understand that this particular path doesn't allow them to access further sensitive data, but it does give these corporations the power to block any individual for accessing the DigiD app. You don'…
Which tasks? I use DigiD with SMS and I've never needed to install an app, I have healthcare etc etc.
I believe there are three levels -- password only, otp and otp after you tap the id card in the app (I think it's just once).
My healthcare provider changed their online thing this year and that new thing required highest assurance level. I think they changed it back because you can only tap with the Dutch id card (not the residence permit or other country's ids).
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#227Earlier quoted context omitted.
How hard can it be to hire a competent engineer when you hire for a bank or a government.
Techs trying to solve the tech problem. Governments need it to be solved by a team (either within the government or a vendor company) because it is the non-tech things that are missing from the open source solution: high availability / redundancy, hosting, backups, business continuity, audits, someone to grill when there is a leak. The people who work in government and banks aren’t incompetent. They are just like you…
I do in fact work in a bank and know a person who works on DigID. I wouldn't say incompetency is the word, but there is something ... special about the people and their skills here.
>high availability
oh yeah, oh noes.
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#228Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is a bit more complex tham that. Logius is the company that actually owns and manages the DigiD stack, it's just that they hired Solvinity for their expertise. AFAIK Solvinity can't access the data. I can't find it right now, but on Tweakers there was a long comment by someone on the inside that explained Logius basically had almost no know-how of how the current stack works, and there's lots of bespoke stuff. Bas…
How can you be sure that Solvinity can't access the data if Logius doesn't know how the current stack works? 5+ years to migrate sounds really bad.
> 5+ years to migrate sounds really bad.
That's nothing. The Dutch tax authority has spent the last 5 years deliberating a migration from on-prem IBM Notes to M365.
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#229From what I gather it is hard to hire the highest level developers because they hate the endless meetings, bureaucracy and micromanagment. Salaries are comparable to industry which seems quite high for dutch standards but if you make education hard and expensive with unreasonable time constraints and little adjustment to demand you are just going to end up enforcing scarcity which calls for even higher salaries. We also continue to suffer from managerialism. It makes it strange to pay someone building stuff more than someone managing them.
Re: Netherlands blocks US takeover of vital digital supplier
#230Great news. Would have been devastating to have such an integral part of our society at the whims of not just another nation, but an unstable and downright hostile one.
Unfortunately, they're still heavily dependent on Microsoft products and OS