Matrix replacing MJP, ZBP & Co: Will state mailbox chaos belong to the past?
There is a proliferation of state mailboxes. The federal and state governments are now deciding on a radical new start – with Matrix as the basis.
The ZaPuK project aims to clear up the confusion of Mein Justizpostfach, Zentraler BĂĽrgerpostfach, Elster-Postfach, De-Mail, EGVP & Co.
(Image: Föderales IT-Architekturboard / openCode)
On June 26, the federal and state governments will decide on a radical new start for government communication solutions. On this day, the IT Planning Council will discuss a proposal to consolidate the numerous existing solutions such as Mein Justizpostfach, Zentrales BĂĽrgerpostfach, Elster-Postfach & Co. According to the proposal, these are to be replaced by a new, uniform communication infrastructure based on the open standard Matrix and the MLS (Messaging Layer Security) protocol by 2028.
The plan was drawn up by a working group under the leadership of Hamburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and the digitalization authority Fitko. The “heterogeneity” of the numerous current solutions is “opaque and difficult to communicate” for private individuals and companies, writes the group on the openCode platform. In addition, the existing solutions often do not correspond to the state of the art, for example in terms of encryption (the MJP judicial mailbox, for example, is currently being criticized).
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Decentralized structure
The architecture now proposed, on the other hand, is to be based on “modern, internationally standardized technologies”. It implements “end-to-end encrypted communication with state-of-the-art cryptographic properties”, writes the working group. If required, messages should also be able to be provided with a qualified electronic signature.
The planned system will also be decentralized. A mailbox and a backend are to be provided centrally, but organizations such as public authorities should also be able to operate their own compatible mailboxes and backends. The working group justifies such decisions, including those for Matrix and MLS, on openCode.
Shutdown instead of modernization
According to documents for the IT Planning Council, which are available to c't, the working group recommends “a genuine consolidation of mailboxes”. In other words, the existing solutions should be switched off. The working group advises against connecting the existing solutions to the outlined new system via messaging bridges, as this would break the end-to-end encryption. Migration of the existing backends to the new protocols is also not recommended.
Such a new start would probably require a lot of political backing. This is because, in addition to domestic and digital politicians, other areas such as justice and finance would also have to get involved.
There would also be a lot to do in terms of technology. This includes, for example, the fact that Matrix does not yet support MLS. “Until a tried-and-tested implementation is available, the Olm/Megolm protocol used in Matrix can be used on a transitional basis,” writes the working group.
Decision planned for June 26
The project is expected to be on the final agenda for the upcoming meeting of the IT Planning Council on June 26. According to the agenda, a resolution will then also be passed. The working group proposes completing the “Transition Planning & Validation” by the 2nd quarter of 2026. This will be followed by the “Transition & Migration” phase, with ongoing operations starting in 2028.
c't also reports on the project in the current issue of the D.digital newsletter. You can subscribe to D.digital free of charge here.
(cwo)
