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Workshop Report - UIDAI and Welfare Services: Exclusion and Countermeasures
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/workshop-report-uidai-and-welfare-services-august-27-2016
<b>This report presents summarised notes from a workshop organised by the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) on Saturday, August 27, 2016, to discuss, raise awareness of, and devise countermeasures to exclusion due to implementation of UID-based verification for and distribution of welfare services.</b>
<p> </p>
<h2>Introduction</h2>
<p>The Centre for Internet and Society organised a workshop on "UIDAI and Welfare Services: Exclusion and Countermeasures" at the Institution of Agricultural on Technologists on August 27 in Bangalore to discuss, raise awareness of, and devise countermeasures to exclusion due to implementation of UID-based verification for and distribution of welfare services <strong>[1]</strong>. This was a follow-up to the workshop held in Delhi on “Understanding Aadhaar and its New Challenges” at the Centre for Studies in Science Policy, JNU on May 26th and 27th 2016 <strong>[2]</strong>. In this report we summarise the key concerns raised and the case studies presented by the participants at the workshop held on August 27, 2016.</p>
<h2>Implementation of the UID Project</h2>
<p><strong>Question of Consent:</strong> The Aadhaar Act <strong>[3]</strong> states that the consent of the individual must be taken at the time of enrollment and authentication and it must be informed to him/her the purpose for which the data would be used. However, the Act does not provide for an opt-out mechanism and an individual is compelled to give consent to continue with the enrollment process or to complete an authentication.</p>
<p><strong>Lack of Adherence to Court Orders:</strong> Despite of several orders by Supreme Court stating that use of Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for the purpose of availing benefits and services, multiple state governments and departments have made it mandatory for a wide range of purposes like booking railway tickets <strong>[4]</strong>, linking below the poverty line ration cards with Aadhaar <strong>[5]</strong>, school examinations <strong>[6]</strong>, food security, pension and scholarship <strong>[7]</strong>, to name a few.</p>
<p><strong>Misleading Advertisements:</strong> A concern was raised that individuals are being mislead in the necessity and purpose for enrollment into the project. For example, people have been asked to enrol by telling them that they might get excluded from the system and cannot get services like passports, banks, NREGA, salaries for government employees, denial of vaccinations, etc. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ordered Aadhaar not be mandatory, yet people are being told that documentation or record keeping cannot be done without UID number.</p>
<p><strong>Hybrid Governance:</strong> The participants pointed out that with the Aadhaar (Targeted delivery of financial and other subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as Aadhaar Act, 2016 ) being partially enforced, multiple examples of exclusion as reported in the news are demonstrating how the Aadhaar project is creating a case of hybrid governance i.e private corporations playing a significant role in Governance. This can be seen in case of Aadhaar where we see many entities from private sector being involved in its implementation, as well as many software and hardware companies.</p>
<p><strong>Lack of Transparency around Sharing of Biometric Data:</strong> The fact how and why the Government is relying on biometrics for welfare schemes is unclear and not known. Also, there is no information on how biometric data that is collected through the project is being used and its ability as an authenticating device. Along with that, there is very little information on companies that have been enlisted to hold and manage data and perform authentication.</p>
<p><strong>Possibility of Surveillance:</strong> Multiple petitions and ongoing cases have raised concerns regarding the possibility of surveillance, tracking, profiling, convergence of data, and the opaque involvement of private companies involved in the project.</p>
<p><strong>Denial of Information:</strong> In an RTI filed by one of the participant requesting to share the key contract for the project, it was refused on the grounds under section 8(1) (d) of the RTI Act, 2005. However, it was claimed that the provision would not be applicable since the contract was already awarded and any information disclosed to the Parliament should be disclosed to the citizens. The Central Information Commission issued a letter stating that the contractual obligation is over and a copy of the said agreement can be duly shared. However, it was discovered by the said participant that certain pages of the same were missing , which contained confidential information. When this issue went before appeal before the Information Commissioner, the IC gave an order to the IC in Delhi to comply with the previous order. However, it was communicated that limited financial information may be given, but not missing pages. Also, it was revealed that the UIDAI was supposed to share biometric data with NPR (by way of a MoU), but it has refused to give information since the intention was to discontinue NPR and wanted only UIDAI to collect data.</p>
<h2>Concerns Arising from the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Implementation of PAHAL (DBTL) Scheme</h2>
<p>A presentation on the CAG compliance audit report of PAHAL on LPG <strong>[8]</strong> revealed how the society was made to believe that UID will help deal with the issue of duplication and collection as well as use of biometric data will help. The report also revealed that multiple LPG connections have the same Aadhaar number or same bank account number in the consumer database maintained by the OMCs, the bank account number of consumers were also not accurately recorded, scrutiny of the database revealed improper capture of Aadhaar numbers, and there was incorrect seeding of IFSC codes in consumer database. The participants felt that this was an example of how schemes that are being introduced for social welfare do not necessarily benefit the society, and on the contrary, has led to exclusion by design. For example, in the year 2011, by was of the The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, 2011 <strong>[9]</strong>, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas made the Unique Identification Number (UID) under the Aadhaar project a must for availing LPG refills. This received a lot of public pushback, which led to non-implementation of the order. In October 2012, despite the UIDAI stating that the number was voluntary, a number of services began requiring the provision of an Aadhaar number for accessing benefits. In September 2013, when the first order on Aadhaar was passed by court <strong>[10]</strong>, oil marketing companies and UIDAI approached the Supreme Court to change the same and allow them to make it mandatory, which was refused by the Court. Later in the year 2014, use of Aadhaar for subsidies was made mandatory. The participants further criticised the CAG report for revealing the manner in which linking Aadhaar with welfare schemes has allowed duplication and led to ghost beneficiaries where there is no information about who these people are who are receiving the benefits of the subsidies. For example, in Rajasthan, people are being denied their pension as they are being declared dead due to absence of information from the Aadhaar database.</p>
<p>It was said that the statistics of duplication mentioned in the report show how UIDAI (as it claims to ensure de-duplication of beneficiaries) is not required for this purpose and can be done without Aadhaar as well. Also, due to incorrect seeding of Aadhaar number many are being denied subsidy where there is no information regarding the number of people who have been denied the subsidy because of this. Considering these important facts from the audit report, the discussants concluded how the statistics reflect inflated claims by UIDAI and how the problems which are said to be addressed by using Aadhaar can be dealt without it. In this context, it is important to understand how the data in the aadhaar database maybe wrong and in case of e-governance the citizens suffer. Also, the fact that loss of subsidy-not in cash, but in use of LPG cylinder - only for cooking, is ignored. In addition to that, there is no data or way to check if the cylinder is being used for commercial purposes or not as RTI from oil companies says that no ghost identities have been detected.</p>
<h2>UID-linked Welfare Delivery in Rajasthan</h2>
<p>One speaker presented findings on people's experiences with UID-linked welfare services in Rajasthan, collected through a 100 days trip organised to speak to people across the state on problems related to welfare governance. This visit revealed that people who need the benefits and access to subsidies most are often excluded from actual services. It was highlighted that the paperless system is proving to be highly dangerous. Some of the cases discussed included that of a disabled labourer, who was asked to get an aadhaar card, but during enrollment asked the person standing next to him to put all his 5 fingers for biometric data collection. Due to this incorrect data, he is devoid of all subsidies since the authentication fails every time he goes to avail it. He stopped receiving his entitlements. Though problems were anticipated, the misery of the people revealed the extent of the problems arising from the project. In another case, an elderly woman living alone, since she could not go for Aadhaar authentication, had not been receiving the ration she is entitled to receive for the past 8 months. When the ration shop was approached to represent her case, the dealers said that they cannot provide her ration since they would require her thumb print for authentication. Later, they found out that on persuading the dealer to provide her with ration since Aadhaar is not mandatory, they found out that in their records they had actually mentioned that she was being given the ration, which was not the case. So the lack of awareness and the fact that people are entitled to receive the benefits irrespective of Aadhaar is something that is being misused by dealers. This shows how this system has become a barrier for the people, where they are also unaware about the grievance redressal mechanism.</p>
<h2>Aadhaar and e-KYC</h2>
<p>In this session, the use of Aadhaar for e-KYC verification was discussed The UID strategy document describes how the idea is to link UIDAI with money enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiaries without any reason or justification for the same. It was highlighted by one of the participants how the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) believed that making Aadhaar compulsory for e-KYC and several other banking services was a violation of the Money Laundering Act as well as its own rules and standards, however, later relaxed the rules to link Aadhaar with bank accounts and accepted its for e-KyC with great reluctance as the Department of Revenue thought otherwise. It was mentioned how allowing opening of bank accounts remotely using Aadhaar, without physically being present, was touted as a dangerous idea. However, the restrictions placed by RBI were suddenly done away with and opening bank accounts remotely was enabled via e-KYC.</p>
<p>A speaker emphasised that with emerging FinTech services in India being tied with Aadhaar via India Stack, the following concerns are becoming critical:</p>
<ol><li>With RBI enabling creation of bank accounts remotely, it becomes difficult to to track who did e-KYC and which bank did it and hold the same accountable.<br /><br /></li>
<li>The Aadhaar Act 2016 states that UIDAI will not track the queries made and will only keep a record of Yes/No for authentication. For example, the e-KYC to open a bank account can now be done with the help of an Aadhaar number and biometric authentication. However, this request does not get recorded and at the time of authentication, an individual is simply told whether the request has been matched or not by way of a Yes/No <strong>[11]</strong>. Though UIDAI will maintain the authentication record, this may act as an obstacle since in case the information from the aadhaar database does not match, the person would not be able to open a bank account and would only receive a yes/no as a response to the request.<br /><br /></li>
<li>Further, there is a concern that the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System being implemented by the National Payment Corporation of India (NCPI) would allow effectively hiding of source and destination of money flow, leading to money laundering and cases of bribery. This possible as NCPI maintains a mapper where each bank account is linked (only the latest one). However, Aadhaar number can be linked with multiple bank accounts of an individual. So when a transaction is made, the mapper records the transaction only from that 1 account. But if another transaction takes place with another bank account, that record is not maintained by the mapper at NCPI since it records only transactions of the latest account seeded in that. This makes money laundering easy as the money moves from aadhaar number to aadhaar number now rather than bank account to bank account.</li></ol>
<h2>Endnotes</h2>
<p><strong>[1]</strong> See: <a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/uidai-and-welfare-services-exclusion-and-countermeasures-aug-27">http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/uidai-and-welfare-services-exclusion-and-countermeasures-aug-27</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[2]</strong> See: <a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/report-on-understanding-aadhaar-and-its-new-challenges">http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/report-on-understanding-aadhaar-and-its-new-challenges</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[3]</strong> See: <a href="https://uidai.gov.in/beta/images/the_aadhaar_act_2016.pdf">https://uidai.gov.in/beta/images/the_aadhaar_act_2016.pdf</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[4]</strong> See: <a href="http://scroll.in/latest/816343/aadhaar-numbers-may-soon-be-compulsory-to-book-railway-tickets">http://scroll.in/latest/816343/aadhaar-numbers-may-soon-be-compulsory-to-book-railway-tickets</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[5]</strong> See: <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/linking-bpl-ration-card-with-aadhaar-made-mandatory/article9094935.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/linking-bpl-ration-card-with-aadhaar-made-mandatory/article9094935.ece</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[6]</strong> See: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/After-scam-Bihar-to-link-exams-to-Aadhaar/articleshow/54000108.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/After-scam-Bihar-to-link-exams-to-Aadhaar/articleshow/54000108.cms</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[7]</strong> See: <a href="http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/cs-calls-for-early-steps-to-link-aadhaar-to-ac.html">http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/cs-calls-for-early-steps-to-link-aadhaar-to-ac.html</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[8]</strong> See: <a href="http://www.cag.gov.in/sites/default/files/audit_report_files/Union_Commercial_Compliance_Full_Report_25_2016_English.pdf">http://www.cag.gov.in/sites/default/files/audit_report_files/Union_Commercial_Compliance_Full_Report_25_2016_English.pdf</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[9]</strong> See: <a href="http://petroleum.nic.in/docs/lpg/LPG%20Control%20Order%20GSR%20718%20dated%2026.09.2011.pdf">http://petroleum.nic.in/docs/lpg/LPG%20Control%20Order%20GSR%20718%20dated%2026.09.2011.pdf</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[10]</strong> See: <a href="http://judis.nic.in/temp/494201232392013p.txt">http://judis.nic.in/temp/494201232392013p.txt</a>.</p>
<p><strong>[11]</strong> Section 8(4) of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 states that "The Authority shall respond to an authentication query with a positive, negative or any other appropriate response sharing such identity information excluding any core biometric information."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/workshop-report-uidai-and-welfare-services-august-27-2016'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/workshop-report-uidai-and-welfare-services-august-27-2016</a>
</p>
No publishervanyaDigital PaymentData SystemsResearchers at WorkUIDInternet GovernanceSurveillanceBig DataAadhaarWelfare GovernanceBig Data for DevelopmentDigital ID2019-03-16T04:34:11ZBlog EntryWorkshop on Democratic Accountability in the Digital Age (Delhi, November 14-15)
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/workshop-on-democratic-accountability-in-the-digital-age-delhi-november-14-15
<b>IT for Change, along with Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), is organising a two day workshop on ‘Democratic Accountability in the Digital Age’. The workshop will focus on evolving a comprehensive policy approach to data based governance and digital democracy, grounded in a rights and social justice framework. It will be held at the United Service Institution of India, Delhi, during November 14-15, 2016. The CIS team to participate in the workshop includes Sumandro Chattapadhyay (speaker), Amber Sinha (speaker), Vanya Rakesh (participant), and Himadri Chatterjee (participant).</b>
<p> </p>
<p>The workshop aims to:</p>
<ul><li>
<p>Discuss the institutional norms, rules and practices appropriate to the rise of ‘governance by networks’ and ‘rule by data’ that can guarantee democratic accountability and citizen participation, and</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Articulate the steps to claim the civic-public value of digital technologies so that data and the new possibilities for networking are harnessed for a vibrant grassroots democracy.</p>
</li></ul>
<p>We hope the workshop can create a civil society coalition that can build effective strategies for legal and policy reform to further participatory democracy in the digital age. On the first day, the workshop will set the context through knowledge sharing and thematic presentations and discussions. On the second day, we aim to concretize strategies for collective action to further democratic accountability in the digital age.</p>
<hr />
<h4><a href="http://itforchange.net/mavc/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Workshop-Agenda-Democratic-accountability-in-the-digital-age-14-to-15-Nov-2016-2.pdf">Workshop Agenda</a> (PDF)</h4>
<h4><a href="http://itforchange.net/mavc/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Background-note-for-workshop-on-Democracy-in-Digital-Age-Sep21.odt">Background Note</a> (ODT)</h4>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/workshop-on-democratic-accountability-in-the-digital-age-delhi-november-14-15'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/workshop-on-democratic-accountability-in-the-digital-age-delhi-november-14-15</a>
</p>
No publishersumandroDigital IDDigital GovernancePrivacyUIDInternet GovernanceAccountabilityDigital IndiaAadhaarWelfare GovernanceE-GovernanceDigital Rights2016-12-15T09:27:22ZEventThe Appropriate Use of Digital Identity
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-appropriate-use-of-digital-identity
<b></b>
<p>As governments across the globe implement new, foundational, digital identification systems (“Digital ID”), or modernize existing ID programs, there is dire need for greater research and discussion about appropriate uses of Digital ID systems. This significant momentum for creating Digital ID in several parts of the world has been accompanied with concerns about the privacy and exclusion harms of a state issued Digital ID system, resulting in campaigns and litigations in countries such as UK, India, Kenya, and Jamaica. Given the very large range of considerations required to evaluate Digital ID projects, it is necessary to think of evaluation frameworks that can be used for this purpose.</p>
<p>At RightsCon 2019 in Tunis, we presented <a class="external-link" href="http://bit.ly/CISDigitalIDAppropriateUse">working drafts</a> on appropriate use of Digital ID by the partner organisations of this <a class="external-link" href="https://www.omidyar.com/blog/appropriate-use-digital-identity-why-we-invested-three-region-research%C2%A0alliance">three-region research alliance</a> - ITS from Brazil, CIPIT from Kenya, and CIS from India.</p>
<p>In the <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-01.html">draft by CIS</a>, we propose a set of principles against which Digital ID may be evaluated. We hope that these draft principles can evolve into a set of best practices that can be used by policymakers when they create and implement Digital ID systems, provide guidance to civil society examinations of Digital ID and highlight questions for further research on the subject. We have drawn from approaches used in documents such as the necessary and proportionate principles, the OECD privacy guidelines and scholarship on harms based approach.</p>
<p>Read and comment on CIS’s Draft framework <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-01.html">here</a>.</p>
<p>Download Working drafts by CIPIT, CIS, and ITS <a class="external-link" href="http://bit.ly/CISDigitalIDAppropriateUse">here</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-appropriate-use-of-digital-identity'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-appropriate-use-of-digital-identity</a>
</p>
No publisheramberDigital IDPrivacyInternet GovernanceAppropriate Use of Digital IDDigital Identity2019-08-08T10:24:40ZBlog EntrySocial Entitlements for the Transgender Community
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/social-entitlements-for-the-transgender-community
<b>This report has been authored by Deepa Krishnappa and Tasneem Mewa, and edited by Ambika Tandon, Gurshabad Grover and Rajesh Srinivas. </b>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr">This report is part one of a two-part series studying the
impact of data systems and digital technology on the lives of sexual
minorities and sex workers. This project has been jointly conducted by
CIS and <a class="external-link" href="http://sangama.org/">Sangama</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Abstract</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-768a639b-7fff-a71e-f8c2-92c04854b07e">This
report discusses access to social entitlements and sex reassignment
surgery (SRS) among the transgender community in Kolar, Karnataka. We
discuss the barriers to accessing gender-affirmative documentation,
which in turn poses challenges to welfare entitlements and public
healthcare. The data collection for the report was undertaken by union
leaders affiliated with Sangama in the months of June to August 2018.
The report seeks to demonstrate both the resilience of and
discrimination against transgender peoples by individuals (family and
friends) and access to health, legal, and social services. We conclude
that the inability to exercise one’s rights is demonstrative of
circuitous and exclusionary social systems. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>The full report can be accessed <a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/Social_Entitlements_Transgender_Karnataka">here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/social-entitlements-for-the-transgender-community'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/social-entitlements-for-the-transgender-community</a>
</p>
No publisherDeepa Krishnappa and Tasneem MewaGenderDigital IDData Systems2020-07-14T06:27:44ZBlog EntrySeminar on Understanding Financial Technology, Cashless India, and Forced Digitalisation (Delhi, January 24)
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/seminar-on-understanding-financial-technology-cashless-india-and-forced-digitalisation-delhi-jan-24-2017
<b>The Centre for Financial Accountability is organising a seminar on "Understanding Financial Technology, Cashless India, and Forced Digitalisation" on Tuesday, January 24, at YWCA, Ashoka Road, New Delhi. Sumandro Chattapadhyay will participate in the seminar and speak on the emerging architecture of FinTech in India, as being developed and deployed by UIDAI and NPCI.</b>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Cross-posted from <a href="https://letstalkfinancialaccountability.wordpress.com/2017/01/20/understanding-financial-technology-cashless-india-forced-digitalisation/">Centre for Financial Accountability</a>.</em></p>
<hr />
<h2>Programme Schedule</h2>
<h4>09.30 - Registration</h4>
<h4>10:00 - Introduction to the Seminar & Setting the Context</h4>
<p>Madhuresh Kumar, National Alliance of People’s Movements</p>
<h4>10:15–11:30 - Session 1 - Understanding the Political Context of FinTech</h4>
<p>B P Mathur, Former Dy CAG</p>
<p>Prabir Purkayastha, Free Software Movement of India and Knowledge Commons</p>
<p>C P Chandrasekhar, Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, JNU</p>
<h4>11:30-11:45 – Tea / Coffee break</h4>
<h4>11:45-13:15 - Session 2 - How will FinTech Impact the Poor, and Labour and Banking Sector?</h4>
<p>Ashim Roy, New Trade Union of India</p>
<p>Nikhil Dey, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan</p>
<p>Ravinder Gupta, General Secretary, State Bank of India Officers Association</p>
<h4>13:15-14:00 – Lunch</h4>
<h4>14:00-15:30 - Session 3 - Understanding the Economic Context of FinTech</h4>
<p>Indira Rajaraman, Former Director, RBI</p>
<p>Tony Joseph, Sr. Journalist</p>
<h4>15:30-17:00 - Session 4 - Understanding the Architecture of FinTech: Linkages to Aadhaar, IndiaStack etc</h4>
<p>Sumandro Chattapadhyay, the Centre for Internet and Society</p>
<p>Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch</p>
<h4>17:00 – Tea</h4>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/seminar-on-understanding-financial-technology-cashless-india-and-forced-digitalisation-delhi-jan-24-2017'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/seminar-on-understanding-financial-technology-cashless-india-and-forced-digitalisation-delhi-jan-24-2017</a>
</p>
No publishersumandroUnified Payments InterfaceFinancial TechnologyDigital IDBig DataDigital EconomyUIDInternet GovernanceDigital IndiaAadhaarFinancial InclusionBiometricsDigital Payment2017-01-23T13:17:19ZBlog EntryProgramme Officer - Digital Identity
https://cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-digital-identity-2019
<b>The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) is seeking applications for the position of Programme Officer, to be associated with a two year long research project on digital identity. We may hire up to three Programme Officers as part of this project. The position is full time and will be based in the Delhi office of CIS. </b>
<p> </p>
<h4>To apply for this position please write to amber@cis-india.org along with a CV, two writing samples and contact details of two references. Interested candidates are invited to send their applications at the earliest - latest by April 15th.</h4>
<hr />
<h3>Organisation Profile</h3>
<p>The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) is a non-profit organisation that undertakes interdisciplinary research on internet and digital technologies from policy and academic perspectives. The areas of focus include digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge, intellectual property rights, openness (including open data, free and open source software, open standards, open access, open educational resources, and open video), internet governance, telecommunication reform, digital privacy, and cyber-security. The academic research at CIS seeks to understand the reconfiguration of social processes and structures through the internet and digital media technologies, and vice versa. Through its diverse initiatives, CIS explores, intervenes in, and advances contemporary discourse and practices around internet, technology and society in India, and elsewhere.</p>
<h3>About Digital Identity Project</h3>
<p>We are embarking on a two year research project on digital identity. As governments across the globe are implementing new, digital foundational identification systems or modernizing existing ID programs, there is a dire need for greater research and discussion about appropriate design choices for a digital identity framework. There is significant momentum on digital ID, especially after the adoption of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for legal identity for all by 2030. Instances of emerging new digital identity schemes include national projects in Algeria, Belgium (mobile ID), Cameroon, Ecuador, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Iran, Japan, Senegal, Thailand, Turkey, major announcements in Afghanistan, Denmark, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, the Maldives, Norway, Liberia, Poland, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Zambia and a pilot scheme in Myanmar.</p>
<p>The nature of choices made towards the creation of a digital identity system have significant consequences for privacy, security, inclusivity, scalability, fraud-detection capabilities and implementation costs of the framework. These choices exist in the context of a complex set of political, legal, technological, economic, and societal factors. In this project we will be looking at technical policy options and appropriate uses of a digital identity ecosystem.</p>
<h3>The Role</h3>
<p>Your role will require you to work closely with our team on research and policy analysis, and to engage with external researchers from whom we will commission research. Doing so will involve the following activities.</p>
<ul>
<li>Interdisciplinary research and analysis: Literature review, policy design, detailed analysis on topics including technology design options and appropriate uses of digital identity systems;</li>
<li>Policy dissemination and stakeholder engagement: Supporting the Project Manager in the dissemination of research findings in innovative formats, as well as attending, planning, and executing events;</li>
<li>Writing op-eds, short notes, policy briefs and longer form academic writing for a range of audiences;</li>
<li>Presentations and formal discussions: Preparing and delivering presentations to various audiences;</li>
<li>Helping manage communications with stakeholders including international experts, regulators and policy makers;</li>
<li>Knowledge management: Staying up-to-date on developments of interest to the Initiative, and sharing and debating these with the team;</li>
<li>Contributing to documentary and knowledge management processes; and</li>
<li>Managing interns and team: Managing work outputs with our interns, and coordinating research with team members and the Project Manager.</li></ul>
<h3>Qualifications and Skills</h3>
<p>We are looking for up to three professionals who may come from the following backgrounds: law, regulatory theory, public policy, economics, ethics, technology and development studies.</p>
<p>We are looking for candidates who can exhibit constructive problem-solving skills, sound analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to analyse issues from first principles and develop solutions.</p>
<p>This is a full-time position based out of Delhi. The position is for a duration of two years. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-digital-identity-2019'>https://cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-digital-identity-2019</a>
</p>
No publisheramberJobsDigital ID2019-03-29T11:02:42ZBlog EntryPicking ‘Wholes’ - Thinking in Systems Workshop
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/picking-2018wholes2019-thinking-in-systems-workshop
<b>A System's Thinking masterclass was conducted by Dinesh Korjan on 27th and 28th May in the CIS Delhi office.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">It was organised as part of the Digital Identity project to explore the use of system’s thinking approach in a digital identity system, and addressing questions of policy choices and uses, while creating such a system. The workshop was attended by Amber Sinha, Ambika Tandon, Anubha Sinha, Pooja Saxena, Radhika Radhakrishnan, Saumyaa Naidu, Shruti Trikanad, Shyam Ponappa, Sumandro Chattapadhyay, Sunil Abraham, Swati Gautam, and Yesha Paul.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Dinesh Korjan is a proponent of the strategic use of design for the larger good. He is a product designer and co-founder of Studio Korjan in Ahmedabad. He complements his practice with active engagement in academics and teaches at many leading design schools including NID, Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, Srishti School of Art Design & Technology, Bangalore, and CEPT University, Ahmedabad.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The masterclass was aimed at learning to address complex problems using systems thinking approach. It involved experiential and collaborative learning through discussions, and doing and making activities. The workshop began with identifying different actors, processes, institutions, and other entities involved in a complex problem. The method of role-playing was introduced to learn to detail out and map the problem. Concepts such as synergy/ emergence, relationships, and flows were introduced through examples and case studies. These concepts were applied while mapping complex problems to find insights such as patterns, purposes, feedback loops, and finally a leverage. The workshop also introduced the idea of ephemeralization. Participants were prompted to find solutions that require least input but have greatest impact.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">For further reading <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/files/picking-wholes">click here</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/picking-2018wholes2019-thinking-in-systems-workshop'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/picking-2018wholes2019-thinking-in-systems-workshop</a>
</p>
No publishersaumyaaInternet GovernanceDigital IDDigital Identity2019-06-05T14:35:35ZBlog EntryPanel discussion on 'How to Avoid Digital ID Systems That Put People at Risk: Lessons from Afghanistan' at Freedom Online Conference
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/panel-discussion-how-to-avoid-digital-id-systems-that-put-people-at-risk
<b>Amber Sinha participated as a panelist in a panel discussion on How to Avoid Digital ID Systems That Put People at Risk: Lessons from Afghanistan at the Freedom Online Conference yesterday.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) was established in 2011 in response to the growing recognition of the importance of the Internet for the enjoyment of human rights. Periodically, the FOC holds a multistakeholder Conference that aims to deepen the discussion on how online freedoms are helping to promote social, cultural and economic development. The ownership of the Conference program and outputs lies with the host country, most often the Chair of the Coalition during that year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The aim of the panel was to use the lessons learned from the Afghanistan case to take a critical and realistic look at the implementation of digital identification programs around the world. A video of the panel can be <a class="external-link" href="https://www.freedomonlineconference.com/session/how-to-avoid-digital-id-systems-that-put-people-at-risk-lessons-from-afghanistan">accessed here</a>.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/panel-discussion-how-to-avoid-digital-id-systems-that-put-people-at-risk'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/panel-discussion-how-to-avoid-digital-id-systems-that-put-people-at-risk</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaFreedom of Speech and ExpressionDigital IDInternet Governance2021-12-03T14:52:35ZNews ItemHolding ID Issuers Accountable, What Works?
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/holding-id-issuers-accountable-what-works
<b></b>
<p>Together with the <a class="external-link" href="https://itsrio.org/pt/home/">Institute of Technology & Society</a> (ITS), Brazil, and the <a class="external-link" href="https://www.cipit.org/">Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law</a> (CIPIT), Kenya, CIS participated at a side event in <a class="external-link" href="https://www.rightscon.org/">RightsCon 2019</a> held in Tunisia, titled Holding ID Issuers Accountable, What Works?, organised by the <a class="external-link" href="https://www.omidyar.com/">Omidyar Network</a>. The event was attended by researchers and advocates from nearly 20 countries. Read the event report <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/rightscon-2019-report.html">here</a>.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/holding-id-issuers-accountable-what-works'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/holding-id-issuers-accountable-what-works</a>
</p>
No publisherShruti Trikanad and Amber SinhaDigital IDPrivacyInternet GovernanceAppropriate Use of Digital IDDigital Identity2019-08-08T10:23:58ZBlog EntryGoverning ID: Use of Digital ID in the Healthcare Sector
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-use-of-digital-id-in-the-healthcare-sector
<b></b>
<p>In our third case-study, we use our Evaluation Framework for Digital ID to examine the use of Digital ID in the healthcare sector.</p>
<p><img src="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/image-digital-id-healthcare-case-study/" alt="null" width="100%" /></p>
<p>Read the <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-case-studies/healthcare.html">case-study</a> or download as <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/digital-id-healthcare-case-study" class="internal-link" title="Digital ID Healthcare Case Study">PDF</a>.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-use-of-digital-id-in-the-healthcare-sector'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-use-of-digital-id-in-the-healthcare-sector</a>
</p>
No publisherShruti Trikanadinternet governanceInternet GovernanceDigital IDDigital Identity2020-03-02T13:21:22ZBlog EntryGoverning ID: Kenya’s Huduma Namba Programme
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-kenya2019s-huduma-namba-programme
<b></b>
<p>In our fourth case-study, we use our Evaluation Framework for Digital ID to examine the use of Digital ID in Kenya.</p>
<p>Read the <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-case-studies/kenya.html">case-study</a> or download as <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/digital-id-kenya-case-study" class="internal-link" title="Digital ID Kenya Case Study">PDF</a>.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-kenya2019s-huduma-namba-programme'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-kenya2019s-huduma-namba-programme</a>
</p>
No publisheramberinternet governanceInternet GovernanceDigital IDDigital Identity2020-03-02T13:19:15ZBlog EntryGoverning ID: Introducing our Evaluation Framework
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-introducing-our-evaluation-framework
<b></b>
<div class="content">
<p>With the rise of national digital identity systems (Digital ID) across the world, there is a growing need to examine their impact on human rights. In several instances, national Digital ID programmes started with a specific scope of use, but have since been deployed for different applications, and in different sectors. This raises the question of how to determine appropriate and inappropriate uses of Digital ID. In April 2019, our research began with this question, but it quickly became clear that a determination of the legitimacy of uses hinged on the fundamental attributes and governing structure of the Digital ID system itself. Our evaluation framework is intended as a series of questions against which Digital ID may be tested. We hope that these questions will inform the trade-offs that must be made while building and assessing identity programmes, to ensure that human rights are adequately protected.</p>
<h4>Rule of Law Tests</h4>
<p>Foundational Digital ID must only be implemented along with a
legitimate regulatory framework that governs all aspects of Digital ID,
including its aims and purposes, the actors who have access to it, etc.
In the absence of this framework, there is nothing that precludes
Digital IDs from being leveraged by public and private actors for
purposes outside the intended scope of the programme. Our rule of law
principles mandate that the governing law should be enacted by the
legislature, be devoid of excessive delegation, be clear and accessible
to the public, and be precise and limiting in its scope for discretion.
These principles are substantiated by the criticism that the Kenyan
Digital ID, the Huduma Namba, was met with when it was legalized through
a Miscellaneous Amendment Act, meant only for small or negligible
amendments and typically passed without any deliberation. These set of
tests respond to the haste with which Digital ID has been implemented,
often in the absence of an enabling law which adequately addresses its
potential harms.</p>
<h4>Rights based Tests</h4>
<p>Digital ID, because of its collection of personal data and
determination of eligibility and rights of users, intrinsically involves
restrictions on certain fundamental rights. The use of Digital ID for
essential functions of the State, including delivery of benefits and
welfare, and maintenance of civil and sectoral records, enhance the
impact of these restrictions. Accordingly, the entire identity
framework, including its architecture, uses, actors, and regulators,
must be evaluated at every stage against the rights it is potentially
violating. Only then will we be able to determine if such violation is
necessary and proportionate to the benefits it offers. In Jamaica, the
National Identification and Registration Act, which mandated citizens’
biometric enrolment at the risk of criminal sanctions, was held to be a
disproportionate violation of privacy, and therefore unconstitutional.</p>
<h4>Risk based Tests</h4>
<p>Even with a valid rule of law framework that seeks to protect
rights, the design and use of Digital ID must be based on an analysis of
the risks that the system introduces. This could take the form of
choosing between a centralized and federated data-storage framework,
based on the effects of potential failure or breach, or of restricting
the uses of the Digital ID to limit the actors that will benefit from
breaching it. Aside from the design of the system, the regulatory
framework that governs it should also be tailored to the potential risks
of its use. The primary rationale behind a risk assessment for an
identity framework is that it should be tested not merely against
universal metrics of legality and proportionality, but also against an
examination of the risks and harms it poses. Implicit in a risk based
assessment is also the requirement of implementing a responsive
mitigation strategy to the risks identified, both while creating and
governing the identity programme.</p>
<p>Digital ID programmes create an inherent power imbalance
between the State and its residents because of the personal data they
collect and the consequent determination of significant rights,
potentially creating risks of surveillance, exclusion, and
discrimination. The accountability and efficiency gains they promise
must not lead to hasty or inadequate implementation.</p>
</div>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-introducing-our-evaluation-framework'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-introducing-our-evaluation-framework</a>
</p>
No publisherShruti Trikanadinternet governanceInternet GovernanceDigital IDDigital Identity2020-03-02T08:03:49ZBlog EntryGoverning ID: India’s Unique Identity Programme
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/governing-id-india2019s-unique-identity-programme
<b></b>
<div class="content">
<p>In our second case-study, we use our Evaluation Framework for Digital ID to assess India’s Unique Identity Programme.</p>
<p>Read the <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-case-studies/india.html">case-study</a> or download as <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/digital-id-india-case-study" class="internal-link" title="Digital ID India Case Study">PDF</a>.</p>
</div>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/governing-id-india2019s-unique-identity-programme'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/governing-id-india2019s-unique-identity-programme</a>
</p>
No publisherVrinda Bhandariinternet governanceInternet GovernanceDigital IDDigital Identity2020-03-02T11:38:51ZBlog EntryGoverning ID: A Framework for Evaluation of Digital Identity
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-a-framework-for-evaluation-of-digital-identity
<b></b>
<p>As governments across the globe implement new and foundational
digital identification systems (Digital ID), or modernize existing ID
programs, there is an urgent need for more research and discussion about
appropriate uses of Digital ID systems. This significant momentum for
creating Digital ID has been accompanied with concerns about privacy,
surveillance and exclusion harms of state-issued Digital IDs in several
parts of the world, resulting in campaigns and litigations in countries,
such as UK, India, Kenya, and Jamaica. Given the sweeping range of
considerations required to evaluate Digital ID projects, it is necessary
to formulate evaluation frameworks that can be used for this purpose.</p>
<p>This work began with the question of what the appropriate uses
of Digital ID can be, but through the research process, it became clear
that the question of use cannot be divorced from the fundamental
attributes of Digital ID systems and their governance structures. This
framework provides tests, which can be used to evaluate the governance
of Digital ID across jurisdictions, as well as determine whether a
particular use of Digital ID is legitimate. Through three kinds of
checks — Rule of Law tests, Rights based tests, and Risks based tests —
this scheme is a ready guide for evaluation of Digital ID.</p>
<p><img src="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/image-governing-id-principles-for-evalution/" alt="null" width="100%" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>View the <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-02.html">framework</a> or download as <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/governing-id-principles-for-evalution" class="internal-link" title="Governing ID: Principles for Evalution">PDF</a>.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-a-framework-for-evaluation-of-digital-identity'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-a-framework-for-evaluation-of-digital-identity</a>
</p>
No publisherVrinda Bhandari, Shruti Trikanad, and Amber Sinhainternet governanceInternet GovernanceDigital IDDigital Identity2020-03-02T13:22:43ZBlog EntryGoverning ID: Use of Digital ID for Verification
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-2028use-of-digital-id-for-verification
<b></b>
<p>This is the first in a series of case studies, using our recently-published <a href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-02.html">Evaluation Framework for Digital ID</a>. It looks at the use of digital identity programmes for the purpose of verification, often using the process of deduplication.</p>
<p><img src="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/image-governing-id-use-of-digital-id-for-verification/" alt="null" width="100%" /></p>
Read the <a class="external-link" href="https://digitalid.design/evaluation-framework-case-studies/verification.html">case-study</a> or download as <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/use-of-digital-id-for-verification" class="internal-link" title="Use of Digital ID for Verification">PDF.</a>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-2028use-of-digital-id-for-verification'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/governing-id-2028use-of-digital-id-for-verification</a>
</p>
No publisherShruti Trikanadinternet governanceInternet GovernanceDigital IDDigital Identity2020-03-02T11:16:19ZBlog Entry