The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in Northern California has voted unanimously to use blockchain technology to improve government operations. The county will implement a digital wallet powered by HUMBL to store and exchange official documentation and government services.
This decision was made at the meeting held on April 25, 2023. As per the decision, a white-label digital wallet powered by HUMBL will initiate a three-stage pilot program in July 2023. The pilot phase will include beta testers, who will be mobile users looking to avail themselves of government services such as bicycle registration and RV parking registration.
Upon successful completion of the test phase, the county will produce a formal report and rollout strategy no later than September 2023.
Zach Friend, a Santa Cruz County Supervisor, stated, “We believe that digitizing paper records, documents, and services is a significant step forward for the convenience of Santa Cruz County citizens and to increase equity and access for our community.“
The Board of Supervisors and HUMBL collaborated on the technical infrastructure required to launch the pilot program, which was initiated in April 2022. The project planning coincided with the State of California passing Senate Bill 786, which permits county governments to issue essential records, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, using verifiable credentials powered by blockchain technology.
On April 12, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Friend’s recommendation to accept a donation of digital wallet infrastructure from HUMBL Inc. The board directed the County Administrative Office (CAO) to establish a pilot project using blockchain technology for official documentation and government services.
However, some local citizens have voiced concerns over the potential inappropriate use and sales of personal data by the infrastructure provider HUMBL. Becky Seinbruner, one of the county’s residents, requested the suspension of further action and progress on the digital wallet’s advancements.
Despite these concerns, the county will proceed with plans for the digital wallet. Official documents indicate that during the pilot phase, local officials will assess whether people have confidence in the underlying technology and are aware of what is happening “under the hood.”
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