On 20th January 2019, we found out that while we were busy enjoying our holidays, Uhuru Kenyatta was busy passing new laws, and changes to old ones through a Miscellaneous Amendment Act. One of the most controversial amendments was the one to the Registration of Persons Act, which added new requirements for both location data (such as GPS coordinates) and biometric data (such as DNA). This comes up after the attack on 14 Riverside, and it is said that it’s for crime fighting purposes, especially now that terrorism is a key concern.

We’re joined by Mercy Mutemi, an advocate of the high court who specializes in Internet law and policy advisory, to discuss the legal, human rights and ethical implications of this amendment. Press play!

Resources

Uhuru backs law change to start listing of Kenyans’ DNA

Gov’t to collect your DNA, more personal info in new registration system

Uhuru assents to seven Bills including one to revamp NYS

Uhuru signs law to reform scandal-ridden youth service

The Registration of Persons Act (before amendment)

The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2018

State to partner with Israeli firm to create online database of Kenyans

EDAPS introduces biometric portal in Kenya

State of Privacy Kenya

In Kenya, Communications Surveillance Is A Matter of Life and Death

India: Identification Project Threatens Rights

210 govt websites had made Aadhaar details public: UIDAI

Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details

By making Aadhaar mandatory, Delhi’s government schools are shutting their doors to migrant children

Excluded by Aadhaar

How India’s Welfare Revolution Is Starving Citizens

The Ethics of Surveillance

From Fingerprints to DNA: Biometric Data Collection in U.S. Immigrant Communities and Beyond

Episode 23: Fascism is The New Black

Episode 47: Digital Citizenship in the Silicon Savannah

Episode 58: The Cybercrimes Act

Episode 71: In Data We Trust

Image Credit: Kenya Monitor