By Sharon Kiburi
The quick move to embrace technology in Africa to boost economic growth has seen African countries invest in the internet without much preparation.
The big question now is, Is a centralized digital identity database possible in Africa?
However, due to economic strength, not all African countries have the same levels of access and technological advancement. Experts are of the opinion that digital identity in Africa, especially Kenya has critical gaps that require attention.
Demas Kiprono, a Campaign Manager, Safety & Dignity at Amnesty International Kenya points out how Kenya does not have a comprehensive data protection framework. This means that there is no legal recourse for data breaches. “The government has not shown real concern for data protection judging by how it has dragged its feet in coming up with a comprehensive law.”
He further says that the question of security and privacy of data and personal information collection seems to be taking a back seat, yet the government continues the process of collecting personal information on digital platforms in Kenya.
Unlike other Kenyans, Kenyan Nubians and Somalis are required to present extra proof of their citizenship and must be subjected to a vetting Committee. Yet IDs are required for accessing basic services ranging from – acquiring a sim card, a bank account, accessing buildings or walking around without fear of arrest. The lack of IDs thus limits their freedom of movement, ability to register for school, civil service and even their ability to transact thereby limiting socio-economic progress.
Kiprono feels that there are indications on the push for African countries to move to digital IDs with biometric data. These biometric data is encouraged by international bodies.” One possibility is that the general lack of biometric data and technology that uniquely identifies black people. In the west, and even in Asia, facial recognition does not generally work with Africans. Their cameras cannot uniquely recognize blacks; as such, this is a new and exciting frontier for tech companies for the collection of massive data in African countries.
This technology can provide raw data for them to work with to improve facial recognition technology for black people. “It is also worth noting that UNDP has also been encouraging African governments to move to digital identity formats. The motive for this remains unclear.” Says Kiprono.
On a broader scale, there is the issue of the danger of further marginalization of historically marginalized groups such as Kenyan Nubians or Somalis who, though Kenyan citizens, have a hard time obtaining basic documents such as Identification Cards. For one to be enrolled with the digital ID, one has to have an official document.
Kiprono further says that the Kenyan government has not prepared enough for the handling of massive volumes of personal data especially digital IDs that contain biometric data. Kenya has experienced several data breaches in the past decade. Government databases and websites are routinely hacked. In the run-up to the 2013 general elections, our identification numbers were mysteriously accessed and used by political parties to stack their party lists to help them comply with the statutory minimum requirements of membership. So far, there has not been any legal action or investigation on these matters.
As much as we have a data protection law before the national assembly, we are yet to see what the final product will be. “As such, I do not think that we are prepared for the collection of massive data, especially biometric data such as fingerprints, iris and face recognition – which is very personal and when breached, cannot be recovered as our biometric data stays with us forever. Imagine the damage that can be done in incidences of identity theft.” Adding that “There should be a data protection framework, complete with an independent oversight authority specifically mandated and competent to handle matters data protection.” Says Kiprono.
Carole Njoroge Liaison manager at the Kenya film commission, says that this is a revolution that is transforming our economy at a record pace. Since Africa is home to the 10 fastest growing cities in the world, and for nearly a decade, this has expanded access to a powerful digital economy.
This move is expected to grow more, but there are several questions to be considered, “Will we have choices on the use? Will we be required to submit so much information, including DNA, that it puts our privacy and security at risk? Does the digital identity system design reflect the rights and protections afforded by law? Will our data be shared with foreign companies or governments, and if so, will the rights I enjoy in my country with respect to my data still protect me?
She further went ahead to state that it is an opportunity that Africans cannot afford to miss. Since the digital identity systems could unlock as much as 6% GDP growth, and up to 50% of that economic value can go straight into the hands of citizens, those gains are possible only if digital identity is implemented equitably with trust, transparency, and accountability. “There should be an emphasis on privacy, inclusion, user value, user control, and security will ultimately create the foundation for impact and mitigate most risks of digital identity.” Njoroge Concludes.
Experts in the tech space say that personal security in relays heavily on individuals. Ephraim Percy Kenyanito a tech-lawyer with ARTICLE 19 East Africa says, “The Security of data depends on the user’s digital security habits, individuals should hold themselves and all internet policy stakeholders accountable.”
Similarly, Alice Munyua a public policy and internet governance professional with Mozilla Firefox says that their company has made tremendous efforts to ensure the security and privacy of their customer’s data is assured. She says they conduct trainings for organizations to ensure the internet is a secure platform to utilize.
