In the heart of Accra, Ghana, luminaries and experts from across the continent gathered for the Digital Rights Inclusion Forum (DRIF) 2024. Among them were Peter Mmbando, the esteemed Executive Director of DA4TI, and Elizabeth James, the dedicated Executive Secretary. Their presence underscored the importance of the discussions ahead, particularly in Peter’s role as a speaker for the session titled: “The state of digital identity in Africa: Threats, usage, and impact.”
The launch session of Day 2 set the tone for the forum’s deliberations. Delving into the global landscape, it shed light on the staggering statistic that 850 million individuals lack legal identification, with 500 million hailing from Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Against this backdrop, digital identity systems emerge as transformative tools in governments’ efforts to modernize and streamline service delivery.
Digital IDs, heralded for their potential to securely store biometric and personal data, promise efficient authentication and access to e-government services. However, their rapid proliferation brings attendant challenges. The mass adoption of biometric registration, while promising enhanced efficiency, raises significant privacy concerns. Centralized databases storing sensitive data without robust legal and policy safeguards risk infringing on individuals’ privacy rights and exacerbating discrimination.
The unveiling of a comprehensive report by the Greater Internet Freedom Project marked a pivotal moment in the forum’s discourse. Drawing on country-level studies from Angola, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, the report offers a nuanced understanding of the landscape of biometrics and digital identity in Africa. By juxtaposing the threats, usage patterns, and socio-economic impacts across diverse contexts, it provides a roadmap for policymakers and stakeholders navigating this complex terrain.
For Peter Mmbando and Elizabeth James, the launch session epitomized the spirit of collaboration and knowledge exchange that defined DRIF 2024. As they engage with the findings and insights presented, they remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing digital rights and inclusion across the continent.
As the forum unfolds, it becomes evident that the journey towards harnessing the potential of digital identity is multifaceted, requiring proactive engagement, interdisciplinary dialogue, and a steadfast dedication to safeguarding fundamental rights. In Accra, Ghana, stakeholders converge not merely to dissect challenges but to chart a collective path towards a more inclusive, rights-respecting digital future.
