More Caribbean countries are moving towards establishing digital ID systems. Although likely benefits are known, there are several potential issues and challenge, such as with regard to privacy, data protection and the use by law enforcement, that tend not to be as widely discussed.
Over the past five or so years, there has been an ongoing conversation across the Caribbean region on digital identification (ID) cards. Some countries already have national ID cards, which they are considering replacing with digital cards; whilst other countries, which have no national ID cards, are planning to launch a digital ID card programme. At the time of writing, two countries, Barbados and Jamaica, have been in the throes of promulgating legislation to support digital IDs. Barbados has a national ID card, which would be replaced with a digital card; Jamaica does not have a national ID card, and so the digital ID card is expected to be the first fully coherent identification system in the country.
Having said this, there has been wide and vigorous debate on the proposed national ID systems in both countries. Although generally, there appears to be support for the issuance of digital IDs, as they could foster greater efficiency and more seamless engagement between government and citizens, concern has also been expressed that the ‘trade-offs’ citizens may be required to make, are not being comprehensively discussed.
With the recent passage of the Barbados Identity Management Bill, and the discussion that is continuing on, among other things, the readiness of the country for a digital ID, and the extent to which personal data would need to be collected, we thought it opportune to add our two cents to the conversation.
Efficiency potential
A perennial challenge in many developed countries, including those in the Caribbean region, is the endemic inefficiencies within government, which has resulted in siloed operations, duplicated processes, and reams of paperwork. A digital ID has the potential to connect all of the diverse threads of information on individuals that a government holds, such as records of one’s birth, education, health, property, businesses, to name just a few.
These days, ‘joined-up government’, which arguably is another permutation of electronic (e-)government, is being advocated. Further, and as discussed in our recent conversation with Jennifer Britton, of the Caribbean Community Secretariat, Caribbean Governments should now be making joined-up government a priority, thanks to the challenges experienced and highlighted by the pandemic. Hence, as government processes become more integrated, having a single pointer, in the form of a digital ID, to all of the government records of an individual, opens up a broad range of opportunities for more seamless processing between ministries, departments and agencies, along with less paperwork, and ultimately, more efficient operations.
A potential law enforcement tool
As much as it may be emphasised that a digital ID would provide a cohesive and coherent identification framework for citizens and residents, along with the potential for more efficient engagement with Government, it can also be an important resource to law enforcement – particularly when biometrics have been captured. Generally, the biometric data included on digital ID cards, or in the digital ID file for individuals, tend to be fingerprints and/or iris scans.
Across the Caribbean region, and depending on the reports, crime per capita is high, and it may be surprising how many Caribbean countries rank within the top 30 globally, as highlighted in the table below. However, as it currently stands, law enforcement across the region may be stymied in their investigations, and frequently, have limited success in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators.
Being able to access biometric, plus other data that may be part of an individual’s ID file and broader record, which could also include mobile/cellular phone numbers, addresses, properties, assets, familial connections, to name a few, law enforcement may be better able to track ‘persons of interest’ over an extended period of time, and possibly, unbeknownst to those individuals. Hence although the other benefits of digital IDs are being highlighted, the crime fighting potential of a digital ID system does not appear to be the subject of public discussion, and consequently the protections – if any – that ought to be in place for individuals.
Managing the physical card versus the digital asset
Finally, it is emphasised that a distinction ought to be made between an individual’s digital ID as a physical card, and a digital ID as a digital asset. To a considerable degree, much of the discussion has been focussed on the physical card: What information will be on the card? Will it include biometrics? Etc. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Beneath that physical card, and typically through the ID number, that number can act as a pointer to all of an individual’s information across government, as previously mentioned. There should thus be questions with regard to, among other things, the privacy of individuals, and who would be authorised to access multiple strands of information of individuals.
Questions should also be posed with regard to what happens should a ID card be cancelled. Yes, the physical card might be destroyed, or relinquished to the prescribed authorities, but it may be unclear what the implications are for digital information (across government) that is tied to that ‘card’, or rather that ID number. Further, and noting that many Caribbean countries, now including Barbados and Jamaica, have Data Protection Acts, some of the newer legislation includes provisions on the ‘right to be forgotten’, which provide individuals with the right to have their personal data erased. Although that right may must be balanced against the rights and interests of others, again, with the focus being on the physical card, there may not have been deep discussion on the extent to which a digital ID could be affected by said provisions.
In summary, digital ID is a complex issue, and the above are just some initial thoughts on the subject. In order to advance their agenda, countries may try to limit the scope of their digital ID framework – in order to try to avoid the contentious issues that could result in the enabling legislation not being passed. However, in order for it to work well, especially with respect to improving government efficiency, the digital ID system needs to permeate across government, thus strengthening its ability to track (and monitor) individuals, and potentially also encroach on their privacy.
Image credit: ar130405 (Pixabay)
