MOSCOW, 9 October 2023. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a monitoring survey on the attitudes of the Russians towards digital passports.

On the wave of digitalization

In September 2023, Russian president signed a decree on ‘digital passport’. The survey finds that the respondents are divided in their opinions on using digital passports: 42% would like to have an e-passport, whereas 49% oppose them, but the number of those who support the idea has hit its highest point this year. In 2017 and 2019, when digital passports were about to be introduced, about one-third of the respondents were ready to get them (30% and 31% respectively). In 2020, this share halved (16%).

Those who support electronic passports are often young Russians (72% of those under 25 and 61% of those aged 25–34), primarily male (49% vs. 36% of females), respondents with incomplete higher and higher education diplomas (48%), with good financial income (51%), residents of million-plus cities (51%), and active Internet users (56%).

Those who are unwilling to have a digital passport are often older respondents (66% of those aged over 60), those who have incomplete secondary education (66%), with poor financial income (59%), rural area residents (57%), active TV viewers (76%), and women rather than men (55% vs. 41%).

Advantages and disadvantages

According to the Russians, digital passport has its benefits and drawbacks. Benefits are as follows:

1. Modern and functional (it contains more information, all the data in one place — 19% (+17 pp. compared to 2020); it's easier to manage — 3%; it's functional — 2%).
2. Convenient (easier to use, more practical — 13% (+8 pp. compared to 2020), it’s smaller, it takes less space — 10% (+8 pp. compared to 2020); less paperwork — 8% (in 2020 <1%; no need to carry the paper one — 4%; it’s easier to restore it if lost — 2%).
3. Reliable and safe (longevity — 10% (+ 6 pp. compared to 2020); you won' t lose it, it won’t be stolen — 7%; it’s more difficult to falsify it, it’s properly protected, confidential — 2%).
4. Always available (it's always available — 3%; you can use it anywhere, you always have access to public services— 2%).

Over the recent three years the percentage of the Russians who find it difficult to point out advantages of having a digital passport has reduced two-fold (40% in 2019; 42% in 2020; 22% in 2023). However, every fifth respondent (20%; -8 p.p. compared to 2020) considers that a paper passport is better.

The drawbacks mentioned by the respondents are as follows:

1. Unreliable (unreliable, data can be hacked, more fraud — 23% (+6 pp. compared to 2020); there may be system failures, unreliable electronic system — 5% (–3 pp. compared to 2020).
2. Threat to confidentiality (surveillance, control by the government — 5% (+4 pp. compared to 2020); data become available to third parties — 5% (–19 pp. compared to 2020).
3. Not functional and convenient (it contains more information, all papers in one place, if you lose you lose everything  — 5%; it’s easier to lose it, data can be lost — 3%; not available without the internet, electricity, if the phone is discharged — 2%; it can be damaged, it can stop working, it can demagnetized — 2%; devices that can read it are not available everywhere — 2%).
4. Lack of trust to something new/unknown (unfamiliar, not trustworthy — 2%, each).

What awaits us?

The Russians believe that the future of paperwork lies in digitalization: 73% consider that within the next twenty years paper documents will completely disappear and be replaced with their digital equivalent. Those who are in favor of the electronic papers are young respondents aged under 35 (86–81%) and active Internet users (79%). Twenty percent of the Russians do not believe that paper documents will be replaced by virtual ones (including 6% of those who are confident that the paper documents will not disappear).

VCIOM-Sputnik all-Russian telephone survey was conducted September 30, 2023. A total of 1,600 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interviews, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

Key effectiveness indicators, survey of 30 September, 2023:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.8127; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0177; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1241.