Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Every fifth Russian (and every third young adult) would like to have an e-passport. A quarter of respondents would like to have an electronic driving license.

MOSCOW, August 11, 2020 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey describing the Russian attitudes towards electronic passports and driving licenses, as well as other documents Russians would like to have in a digital format.

Following the topic of electronic employment record books, VCIOM asked Russians about their attitudes towards the e-passport and driving license.

Sixteen percent of Russians would like to have an e-passport; they are often respondents aged 18-24 (30%), men (21%), and residents of large cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg (26%) and million-plus cities (20%). Respondents aged 60 and older and rural area inhabitants are less likely to be willing to switch to e-passport (6% and 10%, respectively).  Most of Russians do not appear to be willing to have an e-passport (73%); every tenth respondent did not give an answer (11%).

The benefits of electronic passports, as mentioned by Russians, are as follows: it cannot be stolen or lost (9%), you do not need to take it with you (6%), it is easier to use it and it is more practical (5%); it is also durable because it will not get dirty, wet or torn (4%). You always have it on hand (3%). Every fourth Russian considers that e-passports have no advantages; the paper-based ones are better (28%; half of respondents failed to point to any advantage (42%).

The major disadvantage of using the e-passport is that the data can be made available to third parties (24%). Russians are also afraid of fraud because of poor data security (17%), possible system failure (8%), data loss (3%), lack of control over the data (3%), or inability to use the e-passport offline or without electricity (3%).

A quarter of Russians would like to have their driving license in an electronic format (23%): they are mainly men (28%), young respondents aged 18-24 (46%) and 25-34 (36%), and those aged 35-44 (30%). However three-quarters of Russians would refuse to have an electronic driving license: mainly Russians aged 45-59 (80%) and those aged 60 (86%), as well as women (79%). Those who have a driving license are more likely to be willing to have it in an electronic format (32%) than those who do not have any driving license at all (13% would opt for the e-format).

As to other documents to be used in electronic form, Russians would willingly have an electronic SNILS (12%), OMS (10%), INN (8%) and other certificates of insurance (8%). Sixteen percent of Russians would refuse to shift to electronic documents; 52% remained undecided.

Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 19, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone number was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and 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.

 

Would you like to switch to an e-passport?  (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Yes

16

21

13

30

19

22

16

6

No

73

68

77

66

73

70

68

83

Don’t know

11

11

10

4

8

8

16

11

Would you like to switch to an e-passport? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950,000 inhabitants

100–500,000 inhabitants

Less than 100,000  inhabitants

Rural area

Yes

16

26

20

18

16

15

10

No

73

64

71

71

72

76

79

Don’t know

11

10

9

11

12

9

11

In your opinion, what are the advantages of electronic passport over the paper-based one? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

You cannot lose it / it won’t be stolen / not afraid of losing it

9

No need to take it with you / no need to take the paper-based passport

6

More convenient,  practical

5

Longevity / not easy to damage or tear it / enduring quality / it cannot get dirty/ wet

4

It is always on hand

3

Database / everything is online / information in e-format

2

It has more information / it contains all the documents / all in one / you take fewer documents with you  

2

You can use it anywhere / you can always access it / access to gosuslugi (state services)

2

It is compact / it takes less room / mobile

2

Service is easier and faster / easier to use it / easier to get it

2

No advantages / the paper one is better

28

Other

7

Don’t know

42

What are the disadvantages of electronic passport over the paper-based one? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents

 

Total respondents

Data are available to third persons / personal information is available

24

Data protection issue/ not reliable / it can be hacked / more fraud

17

There might be system failure / data base failure / not reliable electronic system

8

It is easier to lose it / data can be lost

3

No internal control / not in possession

3

Not available offline / not available without electricity

3

Not accustomed to / not clear how it works

2

Surveillance / control by the government

1

No disadvantages

5

Other

10

Don’t know

39

Would you like to have an electronic driving license?  (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Yes

23

28

19

46

36

30

14

10

No

73

65

79

50

63

63

80

86

Don’t know

4

7

2

4

1

7

6

4

Would you like to have an electronic driving license?  (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Those who have a driving license

Those who do not have a driving license

Yes

23

32

13

No

73

62

84

Don’t know

4

6

3

Except for the passport, driving license and employment record book, what other documents would you like to have in an electronic format? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

SNILS (Individual insurance account number)

12

OMS (compulsory health insurance)

10

INN  (Tax payer ID) / tax papers

8

Policy/ Insurance / certificate of insurance

8

Birth certificate

3

Pensioner ID card

2

Medical record card

2

Education certificate

2

None

16

Other

11

Don’t know

52

 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.

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