Civil affairs: eServices

Municipality of Zaanstad

Residents of Dutch municipalities can arrange many civil affairs processes online with the municipality, such as declarations or changes. The system automatically checks data such as your personal details, address and other required information to handle simple requests faster.

Last change on 24th of November 2024, at 20:59 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: DPIA
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Organisation and business operations

Begin date

2019-01

Contact information

https://www.zaanstad.nl/contact/

Responsible use

Goal and impact

The importance of a correctly registered address goes beyond keeping the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) in order. If a disaster occurs, for instance, you want to be able to warn everyone in the area in time. As a municipality, you also provide facilities, benefits or subsidies to residents on the basis of the address registered in the BRP. This makes correct address registration important for both residents and government. The algorithm checks various details of the citizen. If no peculiarities are found in the application or declaration, it can be processed without the intervention of an employee. If it does find any peculiarity, the application/declaration falls into a waiting room where it is checked by an employee. The algorithm can only automatically approve an application/declaration. Only the official can reject an application/declaration.

Considerations

Because many simple applications are processed automatically, the official has more time for the difficult or special applications. This ensures that these applications are assessed better and more accurately. As a result, people get better help and fewer errors are made. This ensures a higher quality of the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP).

Human intervention

The algorithm assumes a positive scenario. This means that simple declarations and applications are processed automatically. If something special happens, the application is always checked by an official. The official then looks at the application himself and can decide to approve or reject it. If the application is rejected, it is always done by the official, not by the algorithm.

Risk management

Risk management in the algorithm includes automatic processing of simple applications, while applications with details are always checked by an official. This ensures that only an official can reject an application, ensuring accuracy and reliability of data.

Legal basis

Law on basic registration of persons

Civil Status Act

Links to legal bases

• Wet basisregistratie personen: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0033715/2023-01-01
• Wet rechten burgerlijke stand: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001851/2019-02-16

Elaboration on impact assessments

DPIA pending the final opinion of the Data Protection Officer (FG).

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)

Operations

Data

Personal details, address details, control details, any annexes or additional documents attached to the declaration or application.

Technical design

Decision trees. A decision tree is a part of the algorithm that helps make choices. It asks questions such as: "Does the application meet certain conditions?" and, based on the answers, determines which steps the system takes next.

External provider

Centric Netherlands BV