2026-03-18 Nav strongly criticised for lack of digital access for parents

Last modified: 2026-11-02 21:35by Erik Hagen ID: 7d3baa59-daab-4f23-830e-5c2811bb2404 SAMT-X/content-insight

Summary of the media coverage

Source: Aftenposten (in Norwegian)
Published: 18 March 2026

In a new statement, the Parliamentary Ombud (Sivilombudet) strongly criticises Nav (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) for the lack of digital solutions for parents, guardians and authorised representatives. The problem is that these groups currently have no digital access to Nav’s services on behalf of the children or the persons they represent.

Main points of the case:

  • Missing functionality: While services such as Helsenorge and the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) have long had solutions for digital representation, Nav is lagging behind.
  • Increased burden: Parliamentary Ombud Hanne Harlem points out that the absence of digital solutions places a significant additional burden on parents and guardians, who often have to resort to postal mail and manual processes.
  • Criticism of progress: The Ombud describes it as “incomprehensible” that Nav has not prioritised putting these solutions in place earlier, especially given how important digital access is in today’s society.

Nav has acknowledged the shortcomings, but points to technical complexity as the reason the work has taken time.

👉 Read the full story in Aftenposten (in Norwegian, subscription required)

Relevance for the SAMT-BU project

Preliminary ideas:

  1. Initiate collaboration with NAV - and perhaps the Tax Administration and Helsenorge - on tackling this together in one or more SAMT-BU pilots. Legal issues and technical solutions, such as consent solutions, are common to a number of use cases across several sectors. SAMT-BU may not need to invest many resources, but it is important that best practice for collaboration on seamless services is developed.
  2. Initiate collaboration with Aftenposten and other media on digging out such cases and defining SAMT-BU “cases”, as well as pilots and projects that will solve the problem. Can we make the mass media our extended communications department?