This session, led by the PAYAIG Ambassadors at the African IGF, will examine these impacts and explore ways to uphold human rights in digital spaces. As digital identity systems become increasingly prevalent across Africa, there is a growing concern over their impact on privacy and personal freedoms. While digital identities offer significant advantages such as enhancing access to public services, enabling financial inclusion, and fostering digital participation, they also raise critical questions about data privacy, surveillance, and the potential for abuse by both state and non-state actors.
This session will critically examine the development and implementation of digital identity systems across African nations, focusing on the balance between their benefits and the risks they pose to privacy and civil liberties. Through a multi-stakeholder discussion, the session will explore how these systems are impacting personal freedoms, how privacy rights can be safeguarded, and what legal frameworks and policies are needed to ensure a human-rights-centric approach to digital identity.