DIGITAL IDENTITY MUST BE REGULATED IN LINE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL COMPETENCIES

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 24 /SRNA/ – The issue of electronic identity and digital certificates is not a technical matter, but rather a question of sovereignty, security and the protection of Republika Srpska citizens' data, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik said.

"That is why we will not allow laws to be bypassed under the pretext of modernization, the competencies of institutions to be expanded beyond their legal authority, or room to be created for manipulation of identities and access to Republika Srpska's systems and data", Dodik wrote on the social media platform X.

According to him, the Indirect Taxation Authority /ITA/ has been used as an instrument of such centralization.

"Illegal activities involving the issuance of digital certificates without a clear legal basis are not technological progress. They are an attempt to establish control over citizens' digital identities through legal uncertainty, outside the law and established competencies and to further strip Republika Srpska of its authority", Dodik stressed.

He emphasized that Republika Srpska will insist that every area of digital identification be regulated exclusively in accordance with constitutional competencies.

"Anyone attempting to establish control over citizens' digital identities outside that framework enters the zone of legal uncertainty, political abuse and a direct attack on the institutional order of Republika Srpska", Dodik said.

He added that Republika Srpska's institutions will support every decision and every move aimed at protecting legal certainty, citizens' data and Republika Srpska's right to independently decide on matters that constitutionally belong to it.

"A digital future - yes, but never at the cost of taking away Republika Srpska's competencies. I do not know how you never tire of trying the same thing over and over again - deception, manipulation and the gradual seizure of powers. With Republika Srpska, that will not succeed", Dodik said.