Embracing Nationality as a Service: A Call for Software‑Based Governance

The Challenge of Traditional Governance

Governments are meant to represent citizens, yet around the world public services remain fragmented, opaque, and inefficient. Citizens often must navigate a maze of bureaucracy to access education, health, and other essential services.

Privatisation: A Partial Fix?

Some advocate privatizing public services to reduce paperwork, but the power shifts to a handful of private actors that many people distrust. As Yash Mehta, an IoT and big‑data specialist, points out, “privatisation can streamline processes, yet it concentrates control in unaccountable hands.”

Software as the Missing Link

Today, many governments outsource software to vendors like Microsoft and Google. These vendors offer “one‑size‑fits‑all” platforms that ignore the unique needs of individual citizens. To build trust, governments must treat software development as a core competency, developing tailored solutions that evolve with citizen needs.

Open‑Source Software Society

Open‑source software is a democratic tool that allows citizens to view, modify, and improve the code powering public services. It gives people the right to contribute directly to the systems that affect them, fostering transparency and accountability.

Nationality as a Service (Naas)

Owen Miller, founder of the Non‑Human Party, calls for a software‑based society where citizens opt into a system that serves them. Naas envisions an open‑source platform where intelligent agents—software bots or robots—deliver unbiased, personalized services. Because citizens help write the code, these agents are inherently trustworthy.

Case Study: e‑Estonia

Estonia pioneered this approach in the 1990s, creating a digital society that now offers:

• 99 % of public services online
• 96 % of taxes filed electronically
• 99.6 % of banking transactions conducted online

The success of e‑Estonia demonstrates how software can transform governance, improve efficiency, and boost citizen confidence.

Benefits of a Software‑Based Government

• Data‑driven policy – Real‑time analytics enable evidence‑based decisions.

• Inclusivity – Customizable services break down linguistic and cultural barriers.

• Economic opportunity – Domestic software can be exported and monetized worldwide.

• Resilience – A modular, open‑source stack adapts quickly to future uncertainties.

Why Australia Must Catch Up

Despite calls from the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, the Australian government still relies on siloed, conventional policymaking. For example, height thresholds in military recruitment ignore anthropometric diversity, introducing bias. Adopting Naas would enhance transparency, responsiveness, and accountability across all sectors.

Conclusion

Citizens worldwide deserve a government that leverages cutting‑edge technology, invests in R&D, and empowers citizens to shape public services. Nationality as a Service offers a clear path toward a smarter, more trustworthy society.

The author is Yash Mehta, an IoT and big data science specialist.