Across the Caribbean region, most countries are embarking on projects to implement a digital ID system. Although there are considerable national benefits to doing so, improving and increasing citizens’ access such as a broad range of services, digital IDs is a complex exercise. We revisit a 2022 interview with Trevor Forrest, of 876 Solutions on the subject, where we discuss: Why is it becoming increasingly important to have a digital ID?  What are the benefits of having a digital ID?  What can countries do to develop trust in digital ID?  And what are the potential benefits and implications of heightened surveillance via digital IDs?

 

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Across the Caribbean region, countries are increasingly implementing projects to establish a digital identification (ID) system. Most countries do not have a single, unifying form of ID that can be issued to citizens, but doing so would facilitate more seamless government interactions, as well as more efficient and effective delivery of services by both the private and public sectors.

A digital ID has the added benefit of enhanced security when compared with traditional IDs; and is the option that most Caribbean countries are considering, not only for national implementation but also to support cross-border trade and ID validation (Source:  BiometricUpdate.com).

The World Bank estimates that around “850 million people globally do not have an official ID”, and “…live primarily in low- and lower middle-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia”. In the Caribbean region, those who do not have an official form of ID tend to be from the lower socio-economic brackets. Further, since many of our countries do not have an already established national ID system, the issuance of other official and acceptable forms of ID is often purpose-driven. For example, a driver’s licence is required to drive a vehicle, and a passport, to travel internationally. However, unless or until there is a need to secure such specific forms of ID – and the individual has the means to pay for them – there may always be citizens without an official form of ID.

This lack of identification also challenges access to a broad range of services, from education and healthcare to travel. It also affects an individual’s ability to access financial services, as verification of identity is an essential requirement for facilitating financial inclusion.

With the heightened focus on ID and digital IDs, in particular, across the region, we circle back to a conversation we had with Trevor Forrest on the subject in 2022. Though two years have passed, the discussion is still relevant today and may offer some insight into a broad range of issues, which both our countries and we, the citizens, need to navigate.

 

Introducing our guest

Trevor Forrest

Trevor Forrest is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 876 Solutions, a managed technology service provider headquartered in Jamaica, which offers among other things, cloud hosting, document management, web hosting services, as well as internet security assessments. Trevor has over 25 years of experience in the ICT industry with expertise in areas such as web design and development, e-commerce, big data, network/cyber security and blockchain technology. Through the Blockchain Council, which is one of the top organisations for blockchain training and certification, Trevor is also a Certified Blockchain Architect.

Trevor is a sought-after speaker and tech expert. He has been an Advisor to the Government of Jamaica and has served on numerous ICT committees and boards, including the Spectrum Management Authority, eLearning Jamaica Limited and the Universal Service Fund, to name a few.

 

Insights into our conversation

This 2022 conversation holds up incredibly well, especially since digital ID has become increasingly essential to Caribbean countries as they seek to advance their continued digital transformation. However, as was noted when this interview was first released, “Digital identity is a complex issue, as there are a variety of issues that ought to be considered and balanced, many of which, arguably, are at odds with each other.”

A key issue that emerged during our conversation with Trevor was that of trust: a perennial concern that could affect citizen take-up of digital IDs – unless governments make their issuance and use compulsory. Citizens are also concerned about the security of the data, who has access, and the purpose for which their personal data is being accessed, and consequently, the conflict between their right to privacy and national security/law enforcement purposes.

Below are key questions posed to Trevor that drove our conversation:

  1. In the Caribbean region, some conflation appears to be occurring between having a national ID and a digital ID? What is the difference?
  2. Why is it becoming increasingly important to have a digital ID?
  3. How should countries prioritise and balance the following:
    • Convenience?
    • Security?
    • Control?
    • Data protection and privacy?
    • Trust?
  4. What can countries do to develop trust in digital identity?
  5. How can countries make the digital ID system seamless to eliminate the silos that tend to exist across government and even between government and the private sector?
  6. What is the potential and what could be the implications of heightened surveillance via digital IDs?
  7. In being a seamless form of identification, what could be the potential and the implications of all of the data that is being created when we use a broad range of services?
  8. What are the benefits of having a digital identity?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

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Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  :  T Forrest;  Pete Linforth (Pixabay);  REINER  SCT (Pexels);  ecomprofitloss software (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez