Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service'

Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by tzaman on Monday May 02, 2016 @10:38AM (#11611699)

Imagine this becoming a thing. Where anyone could eventually become Estonia's resident with all the rights (and of course responsibilities) equal to the people actually living there. Once other nations would follow, then the borders would truly start to disappear because it wouldn't really matter where you are located. No more us and them, just people of the earth.

I know it's way too optimistic and this solution probably introduces just as many problems as it solves, but still, one is allowed to dream, right?

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Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by Bartweiss on Monday May 02, 2016 @11:25AM (#11612160)

The cynical read on the same statement is "therefore other countries will stop respecting Estonian citizenship to maintain selectivity".

Shipping's been done under flags of convenience for years, but I suspect a lot of people will be deeply unwilling to walk that road for residence.

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Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by sf_rob on Monday May 02, 2016 @03:08PM (#11614508)

>"therefore other countries will stop respecting Estonian citizenship to maintain selectivity".

This has already happened in St Kitts[1][2]. They sold citezenship with very few non-financial requirements and now other nations have started screening travellers from there more aggressively, requiring visas, etc.

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis_passport [2]http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2016/03/02/468953007/episo...

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Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by wmeredith on Monday May 02, 2016 @11:11AM (#11611985)

It reminds of the franchised countries ("Burbclaves") in Neil Stephenson's Snow Crash.

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Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by qaq on Monday May 02, 2016 @10:45AM (#11611756)

Well tax laws apply to you based on your tax residence and your citizenship so this has very limited benefits if you are already living in a western country. Plus due to all the anti money laundering rules you will have tough time opening a bank account remotely.

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Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by tzaman on Monday May 02, 2016 @10:51AM (#11611797)

Agreed, but I think these are all solvable issues, someone just has to make the first attempt at solving them.

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Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by nordify on Monday May 02, 2016 @03:51PM (#11614933)

Actually, Estonia just passed a law which will allow remote bank account opening for all e-residents.

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Re:Estonia wants to become a 'country as a service' by qaq on Monday May 02, 2016 @07:19PM (#11616576)

Passing a law and being able to implement it are 2 different things. If US decides to put pressure on banks they will comply.

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