RightsCon Tunis 2019

Landmark sessions cover the core trending issues that have emerged from the RightsCon Program. These sessions elevate issues that deserve greater attention to support creating the most impactful programming possible. Landmarks are hosted in the RightsCon main stage at the Palais and benefit from greater production support, including translations.

The proliferation of digital identification (ID) systems has a profound impact on people and communities around the globe. From financial inclusion and migrant identification, to border security and state surveillance, these systems have the potential to change the way we organize ourselves, move, and interact in public and private spaces.

How does the use of biometrics in identification influence our daily lives and the enjoyment of our human rights? How are marginalized groups affected? Who benefits most from these systems? What are the trends around digital ID systems in authoritarian states, national ID systems, and refugee camps? Which actors are taking on this issue at local levels, and what can they do to advocate for change?

Governments, institutions, and the private sector are quick to point out the benefits of digital ID, but there is little focus on the lived experiences of the individuals targeted by these systems. This Landmark will focus on the impact of digital ID technology on communities at risk, with an emphasis on the opinions and perspectives of experts from the Global South, and will aim to change perceptions about the benefits and risks of digital ID.