49 African Nations Adopt Digital ID Technology Amid Surveillance Risks

A 2025 report by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab  (DFRLab) reveals that biometric and digital identification systems have been rapidly adopted across Africa, with forty-nine countries implementing at least one form of biometric technology. These systems—including fingerprint recognition, facial scans, and iris identification—are often promoted as tools to modernize public administration and strengthen electoral processes. However, the report warns that they are increasingly used for state surveillance and can contribute to systemic exclusion.

The report highlights that thirty-five African countries now use biometrics in election processes to improve voter registration and authentication. Over forty countries have rolled out or announced plans for national biometric IDs, which are often mandatory for accessing essential services such as healthcare, banking, and mobile connectivity. Many of these projects rely on international financing, including $1.2 billion in loans from the World Bank, creating long-term dependencies. Public awareness of these programs remains low, with only 38% of surveyed citizens aware of government purchases of facial recognition or AI systems.

The research shows that the biometric infrastructure in Africa is largely dominated by foreign technology firms, primarily from Europe and China. Key players include Idemia (France), Semlex (Belgium), Veridos (Germany), Thales (France), and Huawei (China), while local companies such as South Africa’s BioRugged and Nigeria’s Seamfix manage field operations and system integration.

The rapid deployment of these technologies has raised significant human rights and governance concerns. In countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, facial recognition has reportedly been used to monitor critics and opposition figures. Mandatory biometric IDs can also disenfranchise vulnerable populations, particularly women, older adults, and rural communities, as seen with Uganda’s Ndaga Muntu system. Privacy violations are common, with only twenty-nine countries having operationalized oversight authorities despite the existence of data protection laws.

To address these risks, the report recommends strengthening independent regulatory oversight, enacting comprehensive data protection legislation, anchoring systems in rights-based governance frameworks, and investing in domestic technical expertise to reduce reliance on foreign vendors and enhance national digital sovereignty.