Silvia Masiero’s new book Unfair-ID critically examines the claims that Digital-ID advances international development goals. Based on a decade of empirical research in India she uses a ‘data justice’ lens to analyse examples of digital exclusion as well as cases of ‘adverse inclusion’.
Digital-ID systems are used to extract citizen’s biometric, personal and behavioural data to make human beings machine-readable to states, corporations, and humanitarian agencies. These digital profiles are then used to mediate citizen’s access to services, rights, and entitlements. This process is sometimes managed by states but increasingly is out-sourced to private companies or development agencies. Often tested on refugees and the vulnerable populations Digital-ID systems use algorithms in decision-making that is not transparent to citizens – making accountability impractical.
We are told Digital-ID is designed to improve government service delivery, aid humanitarian action, and expand social inclusion, however in practice Digital-ID systems have denied access to food aid, exhibited algorithmic bias, involved massive leaks of personal data, and resulted in sensitive data falling into the hands of bad actors. Presented as a neutral technical solution, Digital-ID is always political, often unfair, and regularly leads to outcomes that retard international development goals. This book offers a journey into stories of unfair ID and charts pathways to fair-ID.
Speakers
- Dr. Silvia Masiero, University of Oslo, Editor in Chief of the journal Information Technology and Development.
- Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, Institute for Historical Research, University of London.
Chair
Tony Roberts, IDS Fellow.
How to watch
This event will be available to watch in person in the Convening Space or online on zoom
Accessibility
This event will take place in the IDS Convening Space which is on the 1st floor of the IDS Building. If you need to use a lift then press floor 1A.
If you have any accessibility issues then contact [email protected]
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