The Maldives government intends to secure data through an eFaas digital ID system, allowing citizens to track data access and ensuring mandatory consent. This follows a scandal involving unauthorized political party registrations. The initiative aims to introduce accountability in party enrollments and enhance civil data privacy.
The Maldives government has pledged to enhance data privacy through a national digital identity system called eFaas, responding to a recent scandal involving unauthorized access to personal data for political purposes. Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihsan stated that citizens will be notified whenever any authority accesses their data, assuring that consent will be mandatory before data access occurs.
The eFaas digital ID aims to provide citizens with the ability to track who accesses their information and for what purposes. This initiative arises after allegations surfaced regarding the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) party adding members using personal information without consent, raising significant concerns among opposition parties and the public.
Currently, political party membership enrollments are conducted using a paper-based process, which the recent scandal has highlighted as vulnerable to misuse. Investigations by the police continue, as opposition factions press charges regarding the misuse of identification cards linked to the registration process.
Additionally, the digital ID system will enable the Elections Commission to implement a verification process for political party registrations, ensuring improved transparency. The eFaas platform, operational since 2012, recently introduced a digital ID application in 2023, alongside various document accesses, including driver’s licenses. Facial recognition technology utilized in the system is provided by Regula.
The commitment to digitalization is further exemplified by President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to Estonia in January to discuss advancements in public services, highlighting a dedication to enhancing cooperation between nations in the realm of innovation.
In summary, the Maldives government is taking decisive steps to ensure data privacy through the implementation of the eFaas digital ID system, particularly following scandalous accusations regarding unauthorized use of personal data for political party memberships. The initiative promises increased transparency and consent for data access, while investigations into the misuse of ID cards by political entities continue. Furthermore, the ongoing digitalization effort signifies a positive shift towards modernizing public services in collaboration with international partners.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
