Other Writing

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...

The Zimbabwean government is reportedly on the verge of launching national digital identification cards, following the completion of an extensive overhaul of the country’s civil registry. Officials view this reform as a crucial step toward establishing a modern national ID system however privacy activists fear it would lead to more government surveillance.

In May, local media reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs announced plans to initiate the issuance of digital IDs this month. However,...

Kenya's Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry is spearheading a new initiative aimed at implementing a mandatory digital identification system.

Numerous reports from local media suggest that the initiative aligns with the nation's broader vision for digital identification, aimed at simplifying access to both public and private services while enhancing efforts to combat fraud. According to Business Daily, [1] a proposed policy is under review that seeks to bolster oversight of the rapidly...

Mexico has officially implemented a digital identification system following the enactment of a law that transforms the previously optional biometric citizen code into a mandatory identification document for all residents.

In a significant legislative development, lawmakers greenlit changes to a law governing the 18-character personal identifier, known as [1] the Unique Population Registry Code or CURP. The amendments were officially enacted through a formal decree. The updated CURP [2] will...

The United Kingdom is set to make a formal shift to electronic visas as part of the government’s digital immigration system. At the same time Labour MPs are calling for the implementation of digital ID cards.

The UK is set to [1] transition from traditional physical visa documents to an electronic visa system, known as the eVisa. This online representation of immigration status is directly associated with an individual’s passport. Millions of individuals currently possess eVisas, which were...

Bedfordshire Police could soon become one of the latest UK forces to implement live facial recognition technology, with plans to deploy it on local streets potentially as early as the Summer of 2025.

During a recent Police and Crime Panel meeting, John Tizard [1] who is the Police and Crime Commissioner elaborated on a forthcoming plan, emphasizing that while the police force is prepared, it is still pending final approvals from the Home Office. This initiative [2] is part of the county’s...

A digital government app introduced by Eswatini is now under public examination due to worries about data privacy and security.

The Government In Your Hand or GIYH app has been officially launched during a ceremony led by Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Savannah Maziya. The initiative is designed to enhance citizen access to government services directly from their smartphones, [1] as reported by My Afrika Magazine. Minister Maziya highlighted that this development is...

A Filipino senator has proposed a bill to amend the Philippine Identification System Act in response to ongoing concerns regarding data privacy and security vulnerabilities.

[1] Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson introduced a bill in the Senate emphasizing its potential to enhance the integrity of the digital national ID system by preventing ineligible individuals from registering. According [2] to a statement from the Senate, Lacson expressed concerns that over the years, numerous individuals,...

Transport for London is exploring the possibility of implementing live facial recognition cameras throughout the London Underground claiming the strategy will reduce fare evasion and improve security, however surveillance fears remain.

Siwan Hayward, [1] who is the Director of Security, Policing, and Enforcement at [2] Transport for London or TfL, has revealed that the agency [3] is considering the use of live facial recognition technology as part of its efforts to tackle fare evasion and “...

A Canadian court called the release of documents that may reveal details about the collaboration between federal officials and law enforcement in freezing the bank accounts of a protester linked to the Freedom Convoy.

The RCMP and TD Bank [1] will need to release documents pertaining to Evan Blackman, a participant in the 2022 protests whose bank accounts were frozen despite not facing any criminal charges at that time. The Ontario Court of Justice delivered this ruling, as announced by the ...

Guyana is taking significant steps to enhance its national ID system, a new biometric electronic ID initiative that seeks to introduce electronic identity cards for both citizens and foreign residents, seamlessly merging identity verification with the nation's growing digital infrastructure and surveillance systems.

The new system by the Guyanese government [1] mandates that all electronic ID cards incorporate biometric elements such as facial recognition and fingerprint information. This...

Pakistan's central bank has implemented new regulations mandating biometric verification for all cash transactions made at counters via mobile wallet services.

[1] The State Bank of Pakistan or SBP has announced that customers will be required to verify their [2] identities primarily through fingerprint scans when making cash deposits or withdrawals at approved retail agents. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance security protocols and combat financial fraud amid the growing...

Hong Kong officials have unveiled a proposal to broaden the city's CCTV network through the SmartView initiative, with plans to deploy up to 7,000 surveillance cameras by 2027.

[1] The SmartView network has expanded significantly since its inception, which saw the installation of 612 cameras by December of the previous year. At that time, law enforcement indicated that these cameras had played a crucial role in solving 97 criminal cases, including serious offenses such as murder and assault....