Other Writing

An AI-generated minister has been introduced to the Albanian parliament, showcased as a representation of the government’s commitment to transparency and innovation. However the move has been met with criticism and hostility from the opposition.

Edi Rama [1] the Prime Minister of Albania and leader of [2] the Socialist Party of Albania has introduced [3] a new bot as a representation of his administration's commitment to transparency and innovation. The bot, named Diella meaning sun in...

Sainsbury's has commenced testing the use of facial recognition technology in its UK stores claiming it will address concerns over shoplifting.

Sainsbury's [1] has informed employees at two locations in Sydenham, south-east London, and a convenience store in Oldfield Park, Bath about the launch of an 8 week trial of new technology, with the possibility of a nationwide rollout. Sainsbury's claims that the technology aims to identify shoplifters and address the significant rise in retail crime...

Desmond Swayne MP has expressed opposition to the UK government's announcement regarding the potential introduction of a digital ID system for all citizens, meanwhile Big Brother Watch releases a report examining the dangers of digital ID.

Desmond Swayne [1] an MP for Forest West has responded [2] to the UK government’s plans looking at introducing digital ID to tackle illegal immigration. In a column for the Salsbury Journal, Swayne warns that the potential implementation of this technology...

The UK’s human rights regulator has been granted permission to participate in a forthcoming judicial review that will assess the compliance of the London Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition with human rights legislation.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission or EHRC plans [1] to submit evidence in a legal case concerning Shaun Thompson, an anti-knife crime community worker from London. Thompson was detained by police due to a false match generated by a facial recognition...

The Information Commissioner’s Office has conducted its inaugural audit of facial recognition technology used in policing, examining the implementation of this contentious tool by South Wales Police and Gwent Police.

The audit is [1] a component of a broader initiative aimed at assessing the use of facial recognition technology throughout England and Wales, with an emphasis on governance frameworks, deployment practices, and compliance with data protection regulations. The audit assessed...

Sir Keir Starmer is contemplating the implementation of digital ID cards for all citizens in the UK as part of his strategy to address the ongoing small boats crisis, however privacy campaigners warn the legislation could lead the UK down a dystopian path.

The Prime Minister led an emergency ministerial meeting [1] to discuss the potential use of digital ID cards in addressing the factors that encourage migrants to cross to UK shores. Downing Street did not dismiss the possibility of making...

Poland is initiating a new campaign aimed at attracting users to its national digital identity platform in an effort to accelerate its growth.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs in Poland [1] reported at the end of July that the [2] mObywatel app has achieved 10 million users, marking a rise of one million since the initiation of its popularization campaign in November. Additionally, over 10 million users are utilizing the app's digital identity feature, mDowód, which represents an increase from...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the government is focusing on digitizing Pakistan's economy and transitioning financial transactions to a cashless system.

Pakistan is planning to establish digital public infrastructure aimed at issuing digital IDs to all citizens. These IDs will combine national identity cards, biometric data, and mobile numbers to facilitate more efficient electronic payment processes. Shehbaz Sharif who [1] is the Prime Minister of Pakistan has [2] instructed all...

The Milwaukee Police Department has indicated that a decision on the potential expansion of facial recognition technology has yet to be made after backlash from civil rights activists.

The announcement follows formal opposition from city officials and civil rights organizations, who have raised concerns about potential effects on marginalized communities. The department [1] has been in talks regarding a possible agreement with Biometrica, a data and identity platform that facilitates access to...

A report has raised concerns regarding risks and data privacy associated with a new biometric patient identification system being implemented in Spain's autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

The project contract was awarded in 2021 to Dedalus and Facephi for the development of an AI-driven system designed to identify a minimum of 170,000 patients through facial recognition technology. An investigative report by the public interest journalism organization Civio [1] reveals that the system has...

Concerns have emerged that journalists and other civil society members in Uganda are experiencing adverse effects due to the country's growing digital surveillance system.

A detailed report by The Independent addresses a significant issue, [1] referencing the experience of journalist Canary Mugume from NBS Television, who has been a victim of phone thefts in two separate assault incidents he suspects were deliberate. In addition to the stolen devices, Freda Nalumansi Mugambe, [2] who is the...

The police have carried out facial recognition searches utilizing over 150 million images from passport and immigration databases, according to a report published by the privacy group Big Brother Watch. This activity occurred without public disclosure or parliamentary oversight.

Police in the United Kingdom [1] have had access to the nation’s passport and immigration databases since 2020, and Big Brother Watch has reported a significant increase in the number of searches conducted. This...

The UK government has revealed plans to significantly enhance police surveillance capabilities through the introduction of 10 new vans equipped with live facial recognition technology, however privacy activists have condemned the move describing it as an Orwellian technology.

The rollout of the live facial recognition or LFR [1] expands the implementation of biometric surveillance by law enforcement agencies across the country. License Plate Recognition vans will be assigned to several police...

Estonia has introduced a new identity verification feature for its digital government application, despite its history of security and privacy issues.

An Estonian digital app, [1] often called the Eesti.ee app has been introduced by the Estonian government and connects users to over 50 government services. This platform [2] enables individuals to access their personal information, view data related to their children, manage prescriptions, receive official notifications, oversee their vehicles,...

A study reveals that just 35% of adult Germans have registered for their electronic identity, even though the country has provided eID functionality since 2010.

A recent study conducted by [1] the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich reveals that 6% of the population is unaware of the existence of [2] electronic identification or eID functionality. The research indicates that the lowest levels of eID activation are among women and older individuals. Conversely, the...

The Malaysian government is considering the introduction of mandatory MyDigital ID registration, as the flagship digital transformation initiative has not gained widespread adoption among the public.

A report from The Edge reveals that [1] the Malaysian government is contemplating making the registration for MyDigital ID mandatory as a response to its low adoption rates. Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Zaliha Mustafa, [2] who is the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri noted that by the end...

A prominent Scottish Labour MP has called on the UK government to implement digital identity cards for all citizens as a measure to combat undocumented immigration. Meanwhile the Shadow Opposition has hinted they could back the digital ID legislation however remains cautious.

Gregor Poynton [1] an MP for the constituency of Livingston is optimistic that the UK government will revive the digital ID initiative originally [2] proposed by former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, who aimed to...

The Central Bank of Somalia has announced that, starting September all residents in the Benadir region will be required to present a national digital ID in order to open or update bank accounts.

The directive formulated [1] in partnership with the National Identification and Registration Authority or NIRA and the Somali Bankers Association, marks a significant transition toward a government-issued identity verification across all financial institutions, according to [2] the Central Bank of...

The New York Police Department apprehended a protester in New York City utilizing facial recognition technology from Clearview AI, bypassing established policies that impose stringent restrictions on such practices.

According to a report by The City, [1] the NYPD opted to outsource a Clearview search via a fire marshal from the city's fire department, rather than conducting the search itself. The information obtained from this search led to the identification of a pro-Palestinian protester at...

Scotland's digital identity initiative, ScotAccount, has officially rolled out its public beta, opening the doors for a broader audience to evaluate the government service.

On July 14th, the Scottish government [1] announced the ScotAccount service enables users to authenticate their identities and gain access to various public services. Individuals can confirm their identity within the app by submitting a photo ID. For those who do not possess a photographic ID, the platform offers the option...