Other Writing

The Metropolitan Police are reportedly planning to implement live facial recognition technology on one of the busiest shopping streets in London.

Live facial recognition cameras [1] are expected to be deployed on one of the busiest shopping streets in the UK, according to an indication from [2] the Mayor of London. The Metropolitan Police has expressed a desire to broaden the use of this technology throughout the capital, and Mayor Sadiq Khan has suggested that the newly pedestrianised Oxford...

The Nigerian government is integrating millions of student records with the national digital ID system. This initiative aims to enhance planning and increase registration numbers.

Nigeria's Ministry of Education has partnered with the National Identity Management Commission to link [1] the Learner's Identification Number of 80 million students with the National Identification Number registry through the digital Nigeria Education Management Information System. The LIN, a unique 16-digit...

Live facial recognition cameras will be introduced at Tube stations in London starting on Tuesday, however this has been criticised by privacy activists.

Transport for London or TfL has [1] announced that it will implement technology designed to identify individuals on a police watchlist, aiming to assist in apprehending high harm offenders, including those sought for sexual offences, robbery, and knife crime. Siwan Hayward, [2] who is the Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement at...

South Africa has announced its intention to reach full regulatory readiness for its national digital ID initiative and to proceed with the development of the prototype.

The government aims to complete several projects outlined in [1] the MyMzansi digital public infrastructure roadmap, which is currently in the implementation phase. These initiatives are part of broader government reforms [2] associated with Operation Vulindlela, a programme [3] launched in 2020 and was led by Duncan Pieterse....

The UK government's decision to discontinue its digital ID scheme does not impact the digital identity verification processes utilised by mortgage lenders and brokers.

In September 2025, the UK government announced [1] plans for a national digital ID to be stored on individuals' phones. The initial proposal aimed to establish a mandatory method for demonstrating the Right to Work in the UK, while also suggesting it could facilitate access to both government and private-sector services.

However,...

The Human Rights Network has joined the increasing number of advocacy organisations in opposing the Home Office's plans to implement facial age estimation for determining the age of asylum seeking children which is fueling fears of digital surveillance and biometric data collection.

The [1] charity Human Rights Network has assisted hundreds of minors who the state has incorrectly classified as adults. In April, the Human Rights Network revealed that the Home Office often detains individuals...

A 2026 report analyses how European Union funding and the export of high-risk artificial intelligence systems has contributed to increasing human rights violations in Palestine and the surrounding region.

The Arab Centre for the Advancement of Social Media has published [1] a report titled How EU Funding and Exports of High-risk AI Systems Exacerbate Severe Human Rights Violations in Palestine and the Broader Region. This report offers a detailed examination of the ways in which European...

South Sudan authorities have announced their efforts to develop plans aimed at digitising the country's civil registration and national ID systems, integrating both systems and issuing legal identities which is supported by the United Nations and the World Bank.

The digitisation and integration of civil registration with national ID systems is a government initiative designed to enable real-time birth registration and support the nation’s digital transformation efforts. This initiative aligns...

France reached a consensus that the trade-off of online anonymity was an acceptable sacrifice in pursuit of a headline focused on child protection.

French MPs reached a consensus on a measure prohibiting children under 15 from accessing social media. The legislation establishes a legal obligation for all adults in France to verify their identities prior to posting on these platforms. This decision marks [1] the first instance of an EU country prohibiting children from accessing apps. Following...

Digital verification services and the centralised portal GOV.UK are expected to form the backbone of the UK government’s future identity strategy, despite skepticism and mounting concerns over privacy and security.

Andy Burnham, [1] the UK Prime Minister, has announced [2] the cancellation of the national digital ID initiative established by his predecessor, Keir Starmer. A spokesperson for Burnham indicated that this decision aims to enable the government to redirect time and resources toward...

The French government and nations world-wide are developing a framework for regulating internet access, presented under the guise of child health recommendations.

Emmanuel Macron, [1] the French President and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, [2] the World Health Organisation Director-General issued [3] a joint statement on July 1, characterizing social media, gaming, and generative artificial intelligence as significant influences on children's physical and mental well-being. They are advocating...

Ethiopia is set to incorporate Fayda biometric data into its passport application process as part of a broader initiative to enhance the integration of digital identification across both public and private sectors.

Ethiopia’s Immigration and Citizenship Service or ICS has confirmed the integration of [1] the Fayda national digital ID with the passport application system, aiming to enhance the efficiency and integrity of the process. The ICS indicated that this integration aligns with the...

The European Union has progressed in its efforts to introduce a digital euro by 2029, following the endorsement of the proposal by a significant parliamentary committee.

The European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs [1] has approved the proposed draft rules with a vote tally of 43 in favour , 14 against, and one abstention. The Europe of Sovereign Nations political group opposed the proposal, indicating that a subsequent vote may be required at the parliament's plenary...

Sainsbury’s is to roll out facial recognition technology to more than 200 stores by the end of 2026, however Big Brother Watch warns that the new policy exposing millions of law-abiding individuals to significant risks of privacy violations.

The facial recognition technology [1] is now active in 55 stores following a successful trial and is set to be implemented in an additional 150 stores by December 2026. The supermarket reported that the technology has been effective in reducing crime,...

A digital identification process for taxi owners and drivers in Yaoundé, Cameroon, is scheduled to commence on July 3rd and continue until October 5th. This enrolment initiative is part of new measures implemented by the city council to identify taxis operating on the city's roads.

A recent order from the city mayor mandates [1] a new registration drive that will be compulsory for all taxi drivers and vehicles. The initiative claims it aims to modernize the country’s urban transportation...

Months after experiencing a setback in their efforts regarding surveillance the European Union is seeking another opportunity to address the issue under conditions they deem more favorable, however Members of European Parliament remain skeptical to the new proposal.

EU ambassadors reached a consensus move forward with [1] a temporary extension of the framework that enables platforms such as WhatsApp and Messenger to monitor users’ private communications. Proponents assert that the measure aims...

Students in secondary schools in Cameroon are set to receive official digital ID cards, following a collaboration between the Ministry of Secondary Education and telecommunications company MTN Cameroon.

Recent disclosures reveal that both parties have signed an addendum to an existing Memorandum of Understanding, according [1] to a statement from the Ministry. The new student digital ID will build upon [2] a measure implemented in 2024, which assigns a unique identification number to every...

East African nation Madagascar has registered 2.6 million individuals in its digital identity system, meanwhile the World Bank who is also financing the biometric initiative is aiming for everyone in Africa to have a digital ID by the year 2030.

Madagascar initiated [1] a pilot programme for its digital identity infrastructure in January, aiming to enrol 2 million individuals from April to June. According to government data released by Copmad, [2] the initiative surpassed its goals achieving...

The Chinese government is planning to roll out unique digital identity numbers for all its humanoid robots to track them better throughout their lifecycle, meanwhile reports are stating digital ID systems are already becoming a human rights violation for their citizens.

Chinese authorities have issued new [1] guidelines concerning the management of humanoid robots and the tracking of their unique identification codes. These unique humanoid IDs are composed of 4 segments, a 2-digit code for...

An artificial intelligence age estimation tool designed to identify adult migrants is set to be implemented at the UK’s borders in 2027.

The UK government has awarded a contract to Akhter Computers Ltd, [1] a products and services based in Harlow, to develop and test [2] an AI facial recognition tool designed to estimate the ages of asylum seekers at the border. The contract, valued at 322,000 over three years, includes plans for further testing before a projected rollout in 2027. According to...