Big Brother Africa: Keeping Tabs on Citizens

Digital ID Africa Financial Inclusion We can all agree that there is a possibility in the future, for anyone who can’t be digitally identified, the opportunity to access services are slim to none, especially financial services.   A digital ID is a form of identification where an individual can be known via remote means over digital channels. This features a high degree of verification and authentication, uniquely formed with individual consent and also observes user’s privacy and control over personal data. The latter, user privacy is a matter of a different discussion, but for now, the digital inclusion of an individual is paramount to create an electronic footprint in today's globally connected world.   At present, there are more than 1 billion people who are not legally recognized as they bear no form of any identity (ID). According to World Bank 2018 estimates, almost 48 per cent of these “unknown” individuals exist in Sub-saharan Africa.  The challenge currently being faced by many countries in Africa is the lack of digitization across the continent.   The mere lack of digitization does not end at a user alone, but the lack of digital technologies across the continent is posing a major issue  The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) estimates that around two-thirds