Africa’s biometric systems are blocking millions of citizens from access to fundamental rights and services, a report has shown.
The report, titled ‘Biometric Digital-ID in Africa: Progress and Challenges to Date – Ten Country Case Studies’, was published on Thursday, December 4, by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).
It provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of biometric digital-ID use in ten countries across Africa, including Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia, Ethiopia, Egypt and Tunisia.
The findings reveal that millions of citizens in Africa are unable to obtain essential services as new digital-ID systems require them to provide biometric and personal information.
According to the report, the systems require them to provide this critical information as a condition of accessing their human rights and government services such as voting, social protection payments, education and healthcare.
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It indicates that already marginalised groups struggle to register for biometric digital-ID due to disability, illiteracy, or associated costs – like mobile data, phone access or electric power for phone charging – further deepening existing inequalities.
It noted that many citizens also choose not to enrol for biometric digital IDs, which use identifiers such as fingerprint and iris scans or facial recognition, due to fears of data leaks or mistrust in their government.
According to the report, most of the digital-ID systems, estimated to cost at least $1 billion to install across Africa, currently lack adequate legal frameworks to protect citizens from exposure to human rights violations and robust digital security to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive data.
The systems also lack accountability mechanisms for remedy and redress when data entry errors, breaches, or system failures occur.
“Worryingly, fundamental human rights, like education, healthcare and the right to vote, are rapidly becoming conditional on enrolment in biometric digital-ID systems,” Research Fellow at the IDS and co-editor of the report, Tony Roberts, said.
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“While some may benefit from the convenience of digital-ID systems to access essential services, it is locking out millions of citizens who cannot enrol in biometric digital-ID systems, particularly those with disabilities. Some people with visual impairments have to pay people to help them use their digital ID on mobile phones to access their social protection payments.”
Commenting on the report, the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan, also a co-editor of the report, said, “Many citizens do not want to enrol for a biometric digital-ID because they have good reason not to trust their governments with their biometrics and personal information.
“We have found examples of massive data breaches and in some countries’ personal data used to surveil and target peaceful critics of the government and opposition leaders.”
Sesan, a digital and human rights advocate, added, “The interests, rights, and freedoms of all Africans, but especially those most directly at risk of exclusion and disadvantage, must be central to any biometric digital-ID systems.”
The research raises questions regarding why governments and tech companies are introducing biometric ID systems across African countries – estimated at collectively costing over one billion dollars to implement – that citizens have not asked for.
In some countries, citizens have protested against the systems, and the public opposition has caused delays or difficulties in getting citizens registered for a biometric digital-ID.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
