Context:
- An open letter by global civil society groups has raised concerns over the rapid international spread of Aadhaar-like digital identity systems, warning of privacy, exclusion, and surveillance risks.
- The debate has implications for digital governance, international cooperation, data protection, and technology ethics, linking to GS 2 (Governance & IR) and GS 3 (Science & Technology).
Key Highlights:
Civil Society Intervention
- The open letter is signed by 54 civil society organisations and over 200 individuals.
- Endorsed by groups such as Internet Freedom Foundation, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, and public intellectuals like Jean Drèze.
- The letter cautions against the uncritical export of India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) model.
Global Spread of Aadhaar-like Systems
- Countries engaging with Aadhaar-like identity platforms include Morocco, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
- Many of these engagements involve MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform).
Concerns Highlighted
Privacy and Surveillance Risks
- Centralised biometric databases may enable mass surveillance, function creep, and misuse by state or non-state actors.
- Weak data protection frameworks in adopting countries increase vulnerability to privacy violations and data breaches.
Exclusion and Discrimination
- Aadhaar-like systems risk exclusion of marginalized populations due to biometric failure, lack of documentation, or digital illiteracy.
- Potential for denial of welfare benefits and essential services if authentication fails.
Governance and International Implications
- Raises concerns over cross-border data flows, accountability, and export of governance models without democratic safeguards.
- Questions whether one-size-fits-all digital identity solutions are appropriate across diverse socio-political contexts.
Role of MOSIP
- MOSIP, developed by IIIT Bengaluru, provides open-source digital identity building blocks.
- While open-source enhances transparency, implementation safeguards depend on host governments’ legal and institutional capacity.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Expansion of Aadhaar-like digital identity systems globally.
- Key Concepts:
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Shared digital platforms enabling delivery of public services.
- Digital Identity: Electronic authentication of individuals.
- Open Source Software: Publicly accessible and modifiable source code.
- Benefits of Digital ID:
- Improved service delivery
- Reduced leakages
- Challenges:
- Privacy risks
- Exclusion errors
- Surveillance concerns
- Impact:
- Direct implications for data protection and human rights.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Institutional Aspects:
- MOSIP developed at IIIT Bengaluru; promoted as part of India’s global DPI outreach.
- Static & Conceptual Linkages:
- Right to Privacy (Puttaswamy judgment).
- Principles of data minimisation, consent, and proportionality.
- Critical Analysis:
- Digital identity can enhance governance but may amplify state power asymmetries.
- Exporting Aadhaar-like systems without strong safeguards risks digital authoritarianism.
- Ethical Dimensions:
- Balance between efficiency and individual autonomy.
- Protection of dignity of marginalized communities.
- Way Forward:
- Strong data protection laws and independent oversight.
- Context-specific adoption rather than replication.
- Privacy-by-design and inclusion-by-design principles.
- Transparent international cooperation on digital governance standards.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS 2: Governance, Privacy, International Cooperation
- GS 3: Digital Technologies, Cyber Security
- Ethics: Rights, Accountability, Technological Justice
PSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS 2: Water Governance, Service Delivery
- GS 3: Public Finance, Resource Economics
- Prelims: Economic concepts, RCTs, water access data