livingston
20×102mm Vulcan
Afghans scramble to delete digital history, evade biometrics
There are fears that government offices and aid agencies may fail to secure databases, leaving people vulnerable to attacks
* Concerns that digital IDs and databases can be used to target people
* Aid groups, government agencies responsible for securing systems
* Rights groups advising activists on how to delete digital trails
Aug 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Thousands of Afghans struggling to ensure the physical safety of their families after the Taliban took control of the country have an additional worry: that biometric databases and their own digital history can be used to track and target them.
After years of a push to digitise databases in the country, and introduce digital identity cards and biometrics for voting, activists warn these technologies can be used to target and attack vulnerable groups.
"We understand that the Taliban is now likely to have access to various biometric databases and equipment in Afghanistan," the Human Rights First group wrote on Twitter on Monday.
"This technology is likely to include access to a database with fingerprints and iris scans, and include facial recognition technology," the group added.
news.trust.org
There are fears that government offices and aid agencies may fail to secure databases, leaving people vulnerable to attacks
* Concerns that digital IDs and databases can be used to target people
* Aid groups, government agencies responsible for securing systems
* Rights groups advising activists on how to delete digital trails
Aug 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Thousands of Afghans struggling to ensure the physical safety of their families after the Taliban took control of the country have an additional worry: that biometric databases and their own digital history can be used to track and target them.
After years of a push to digitise databases in the country, and introduce digital identity cards and biometrics for voting, activists warn these technologies can be used to target and attack vulnerable groups.
"We understand that the Taliban is now likely to have access to various biometric databases and equipment in Afghanistan," the Human Rights First group wrote on Twitter on Monday.
"This technology is likely to include access to a database with fingerprints and iris scans, and include facial recognition technology," the group added.
Afghans scramble to delete digital history, evade biometrics | Context
There are fears that government offices and aid agencies may fail to secure databases, leaving people vulnerable to attacks
news.trust.org
