Nowadays, many National Statistical Institutes (NSI’s) have opted for the web as their principal mode of primary data collection. Still, it is a paradox that our knowledge about the utilization of this technology is scattered and unsystematic. As a consequence, many methodologists across NSI’s are struggling with the design of web-based data collections. In this paper we discuss a number of design and implementation issues for web-based data collections, based on experiences in Norway, The Netherlands and Denmark. In order to achieve cross-national knowledge integration, we advocate the establishment of a Working Group of methodologists for web-based data collection within the European
Statistical System.