Other Writing

The speech from King Charles III detailed proposals for a Digital Access to Services Bill aimed at creating a legal framework for digital identity usage.

The King's Speech highlighted a renewed initiative [1] by the UK government to advance the implementation of a digital ID scheme. This scheme is designed to establish a national ID that enhances the accessibility and security of public services, potentially extending to private sector services like gym memberships and parcel collections. The...

A report by an organisation called Caribou has indicated that digital ID systems globally have ongoingly intensified the exclusionary issues they claim to mitigate.

Caribou, [1] a research organisation specialising in AI and digital Identity has published a report [2] titled Digital Identity and Migration: Struggles for Equitable Technology Governance is based on extensive fieldwork carried out in Kenya and Germany as part of Caribou’s “Identity in the Age of Migration” project. It provides a...

The Walt Disney Company has officially implemented facial recognition technology at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, advancing from a phase of limited testing to full operational deployment at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

Disneyland has [1] implemented facial recognition technology at its park entrances to facilitate ticket verification, a trend that is being adopted by various major entertainment venues. The system scans guests' faces, converts the data into...

The Papua New Guinean government has announced that it will require all business entities participating in state tenders to use the national digital ID as a mandatory form of authentication.

Papua New Guinea is set to mandate their national digital ID system for all business entities involved in government procurement authentication, marking the first expansion of the SevisPass platform from individual users to the commercial sector. Peter Tsiamalili Jnr who [1] is the Acting Minister for...

Jordan have approved amendments to the civil status registration legislation, which establishes a digital ID system and requires its use for accessing public services.

Amendments to the law were approved by a majority of members of the House of Representatives on April 13, following discussions by Parliament’s Legal Committee, [1] according to Jordan News. The legislation encompasses three main provisions, one of which is the formal adoption of a digital ID, mandated for access to various...

A regional initiative aimed at digitisation is integrating millions of health records into a system influenced by controls implemented during the pandemic.

The World Health Organisation, or WHO, in collaboration with [1] its Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and the Temasek Foundation, has initiated a three-year programme aimed at transitioning paper health records in Southeast Asia to digital health wallets.

The programme claims its [2] objective is to provide individuals with...

Idaho has become one of the few states to officially oppose mandatory digital identification.

Brad Little who [1] is the Governor of Odaho enacted [2] the Senate Bill 1299. This new legislation takes a rare stance in contemporary American state politics by opposing the adoption of digital identification rather than advocating for its implementation. The legislation [3] establishes Section 67-2364 of the Idaho Code, which prohibits government entities from mandating individuals to obtain,...

A new integrated digital service has been launched by the government in Nepal for citizens seeking to apply for citizenship certificates and national identity cards, however it faces acceptance problem with the Nagarik app.

Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed the establishment of interoperability between the Centralized Citizenship Management Information System and the National Identity Management Information System. These two significant databases had previously functioned...

Members of the European Parliament have rejected proposals that would permit tech companies to continue monitoring private messages.

The European Parliament [1] has rejected the proposed Chat Control measure, which aimed to implement automated scanning of private photos and text messages. The decision came down to a single vote, highlighting a narrow margin that prevented the ongoing mass surveillance of private communications by American technology firms. Following this decision, the...

The government in Cyprus has issued a reminder to organisations regarding the acceptance of digital documents, which include national ID cards and driving licences stored in the country's official digital identity app, Digital Citizen.

Digital documents are considered to have the same legal validity as their physical counterparts and are to be accepted unconditionally by all organisations, companies, and service providers in Cyprus, the Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy...

Domestic flights in the African nation Somalia will now require passengers to present their biometric ID cards.

The new system was launched at the domestic departure terminal of Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, with Mustafa Duhulow, [1] the Director General of the Immigration and Citizenship Agency, officiating the event, [2] according to Dawan Africa.The International Civil Aviation Organization or ICA reports that a new initiative aims to digitize the internal migration system...

A system characterised by the government as a digital convenience tool may, according to legislation proposed during its own consultation, be made searchable by law enforcement without the knowledge or consent of individuals. Meanwhile, the House of Lords votes in favour of facial recognition, leading to more potential government overreach.

The UK government has announced plans for a ‘more efficient and modern state’ [1] aiming to accelerate services and simplify identity verification through...

The ruling Labour party plans to proceed with its initiative to allow citizens to access public services via a unified government application as part of its digital ID scheme, which has attracted controversy.

Ministers are initiating a consultation on [1] a proposal that aims to enable individuals to verify their identity online. The proposed digital ID system could facilitate access to services such as free childcare vouchers, tax management, passports, and driving licenses, potentially...

The Victorian government is establishing identity infrastructure that begins at birth.

The state has [1] initiated a trial for digital birth certificates, transitioning paper documents into app-based credentials that connect newborns to a national digital identity system before they reach an age of understanding. The pilot programme operates through [2] the Service Victoria app, allowing parents to store their child's birth certificate digitally for kindergarten enrolment purposes.

Local...

Police in Liverpool employed live facial recognition technology during the football match between Everton and Manchester United.

Merseyside Police announced [1] that they would implement measures around Hill Dickinson Stadium, including visible patrols and plain-clothes officers, in anticipation of the upcoming Premier League match. The police intend to identify individuals sought for serious offenses or under court orders, claiming that the aim is to ensure safety for fans and the general...

Australian state governments are incorporating residents into facial recognition systems, presenting the initiative as an enhancement of convenience.

Australian states have introduced a digital ID system that lets individuals present a driver's licence or passport, which the system authenticates. It then captures a live selfie and compares the image with the photo on the document. Once the verification is successful, users receive a reusable credential for accessing state services online. This...

Northern Ireland is considering the possibility of enabling police to utilize facial recognition technology to create investigative leads through biometric matches, similar to the practices already observed in England and Wales.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland or PSNI has formed an internal Facial Recognition Governance Board to gather insights from live facial recognition initiatives implemented across the UK. Notable programmes under consideration include those carried out by London's...

ICE agents have been accused by the courts in Illinois of using facial recognition on minors who are US citizens without consent

A lawsuit filed [1] by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago details an incident in which one agent reportedly enquired if the teenager can do a facial. The second agent then allegedly pointed a mobile phone at the teenage boy, seemingly taking a photo of his face. This incident, documented through sworn allegations rather than body camera footage, highlights...

Concerns have been raised as the United Kingdom partners with a controversial facial recognition company that has provided its technology to Israel for use in Gaza.

The implementation of facial recognition technology has sparked controversy, with reports indicating that similar software has been utilized in Gaza by the Israeli army to monitor and apprehend numerous Palestinian civilians at checkpoints. Shabana Mahmood who [1] is the Home Secretary has stated that police will significantly...

Sainsbury’s has announced the expansion of facial recognition technology in its UK stores in 2026.

Sainsbury's is set [1] to implement new technology in 5 additional stores, claiming it is part of its efforts to address crime, including anti-social behaviour and theft. The initiative [2] follows a trial that began in September 2025, when the technology was first introduced in 2 stores. Following the positive results from this trial, the supermarket plans to expand this installation in London....