Six years after gaining independence from the Soviet Union, Estonia launched its Tiger Leap project in 1997, immersing its society into a period of rapid economic development and digitalization. Today, 99 percent of public services are available as e-services. Almost all of Estonia’s 1.3 million citizens have a digital ID card that secures citizens’ access to online services such as e-Tax, i-Voting, e-Banking and e-Health. Yet, Estonia’s digitalization has not been confined to its borders; the e-state is committed to the creation of a global digital society.

Reaching Beyond Borders

Estonia launched its e-residency program in December 2014, allowing people all around the world to run their own EU-company from the comfort of their home. E-residents receive access to countless digital and financial services to help them run their global business securely online. A digital identity card assigned to them by the Estonian government allows them to securely make transactions and sign documents abroad. Applicants need only submit required documentation and 100 euros to become e-residents.

However, one limitation is the lack of locations for accepted applicants to pick up their e-residency kits and digital ID cards, with generally only one pickup location per each of the 38 countries included on their pick-up map. There are no pick-up locations available in South America and only one location on the African continent in Cairo, Egypt.

Yet, Estonia is prepared to make e-residency more efficient and accessible. Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid unveiled the E-Residency 2.0 White Paper in December 2018 which lists recommendations for an upgraded version, e-residency 2.0. The white paper includes plans for “opening outlets where external service providers would be able to issue e-residency digital IDs, in addition to the current network provided by Estonia’s foreign representations.”

Specifically, the e-residency program is aiming to expand their digital ID pick-up scope to Sao Paulo, Bangkok, and Johannesburg. The white paper also states its goal to diversify the e-residency community by finding ways to attract more female entrepreneurs. Estonia’s dedication and ongoing success in advancing its e-residency and other e-programs has distinguished the nation-state as a global digital leader, placing it first on the 2019 International Innovation Scorecard list.

Maximizing Security

Nevertheless, Estonia’s digitalization has not been without obstacles. Estonia faced a debilitating cyber attack beginning on April 26, 2007 after a dispute with Russia over the Bronze Soldier, a controversial statue erected in the city of Tallinn during Soviet Occupation of Estonia. After the Estonian government decided to move the statue from the center of the city to a cemetery on its periphery, Estonia fell victim to a Distributed Denial of Service Attack. This type of cyber attack floods websites with spams and automated requests with the aim of barring the general public from accessing online services. The cyber attacks, which came in waves for the next three or so weeks, shut down various Estonian media, banking and government sites. The attacks were linked to various Russian IP addresses, yet the Estonian government was not able to prove the attack was directed by Russian government authorities. Nevertheless, the Estonian government skillfully handled the cyber attacks and learned tremendously from the crisis.

A Powerful Digital Niche

Since the major cyber attacks in 2007, Estonia has been recognized by the international community for its proficiency in cyber security and defense. Estonia now advises many nation-states on cyber security and even has formal agreements with Austria, Luxembourg, South Korea and NATO that focus on training and cooperation in the field. The small country’s digital niche makes them an attractive candidate for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2020 to 2021 two-year term. Estonia aims to use their digital expertise to contribute creative solutions for how the Security Council can tackle cybersecurity and artificial intelligence issues. The Estonian ambassador to the United States, Jonatan Vseviov highlighted Estonia’s goal of shaping international cyber laws through the UN Security Council while speaking to Fifth Domain at Cybercon 2018 in Pentagon City, Virgina. Vseviov emphasized the need for official international laws surrounding cyber activity, stating “if it’s not okay to violate somebody’s sovereignty in the physical world, it’s also not okay to do that in the digital world.” Yet, before Estonia can bring their digital expertise to the UNSC, they must first garner more votes than their opponent in the race, Romania. Estonia will need votes from at least 129 of the 193 states when the UN votes on the seat on June 8, 2019 in order to be elected. If they succeed, the UNSC could provide Estonia with an outlet to increase their influence in the international community and encourage multilateral approaches to cyber security issues.

The word slavery often evokes, among other things, historical images of the East India Company, the transatlantic slave trade, and Southern plantations. Unbeknownst to many, slavery has experienced a resurgence in the last half century. Today, it is estimated that anywhere from 21 to 30 million people around the world are slaves. People forced into prostitution or uncompensated labor, children forced into marriages and war, and victims of human trafficking all qualify as modern slaves. Moreover, not only does slavery exist in today’s society, it is also a thriving industry. In fact, there are more slaves today than at any other time in human history.

Developed nations typically experience a low rate of slavery due to a number of circumstances including national wealth and political stability. Factors such as enforced rule of law and low rates of corruption can ensure harsher penalties for perpetrators and reliable protection for victims. Stable, developed nations, like the United States, Canada, and Australia, all have low rates of slavery (i.e., below 0.05% of the population). Although comparatively low, this rate is nevertheless significant and embarrassing.

McQueen is an advocate for Anti-Slavery International, one of the many organizations dedicated to combating slavery with the implementation of an unorthodox approach. Since slavery is strongly associated with poor economic development, organizations like Anti-Slavery International are using “Fairtrade” to help eradicate slavery by creating stable incomes and improved working conditions for farmers and their families. Fairtrade employs cooperatives and independent small farmers, and thus, unlike foreign development aid, seeks to establish self-sufficient communities. Further, Fairtrade is a market-based strategy that encourages sustainability by elevating trading standards. World commodity prices tend to be volatile and in response, the Fairtrade minimum price was established to ensure that farmers are paid for the cost of their sustainable product, regardless of market prices. Consumers pay a higher premium on products, which allows money to flow into impoverished places. The producers of these goods are able to earn a fair wage and support themselves through their work.

Fairtrade helps to develop higher social and economic standards in places that and for people who need it most. It is the hope that these people will be given the opportunity to provide for themselves and avoid exploitation. Buying goods through Fairtrade will halt the cash flow to companies that maintain low production costs with the use of slave labor. Although the problem of modern slavery is a deeply complex issue, one can only hope that Fairtrade will be a factor that contributes to its eradication.

The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of the Glimpse from the Globe staff and editorial board.