Using a digital ID in Ontario – pros and cons

QUESTION: What are the pros and cons of digital identification?

We live in an increasingly digitized world. As a human rights lawyer, I
get asked on a regular basis about the pros and cons of using digital
ID for government service delivery. While digital ID promises
convenience and efficiency, there are several significant concerns that
need to be addressed:

• Privacy and surveillance risks:
  Online transactions leave a comprehensive, searchable data trail that
  is significantly larger and more robust than that left by paper forms
  and physical ID. Unfettered, unsupervised access to this data could lead
  to comprehensive profiling, enabling government to gain unprecedented
  insight into individuals’ lives, habits, and preferences. It will be
  critical to put effective guardrails in place to ensure that data
  collected by government bureaucracies are not used for political ends.
• Cybersecurity and other vulnerabilities: Government
  databases containing digital ID information may become targets for
  hackers seeking to exploit valuable data. This can result in financial
  loss, reputational damage, and emotional distress for victims. Moreover,
  when government services are outsourced, additional concerns arise that
  personal data could be shared or sold without individuals’ knowledge or
  consent, like it was in 2020 by an employee of a busy toll road in
  southern Ontario.
• Infrastructure gaps: Not
  everyone has reliable internet access or digital devices, which can
  exclude those without the means to participate in digital ID systems.
• Equity and accessibility challenges:
  Increased reliance on digital ID systems can exclude marginalized
  communities and individuals with disabilities, perpetuating existing
  inequalities.
• Potential for discrimination: Inherent
  biases in algorithms and data used for digital identification can lead
  to discrimination and reinforce systemic inequalities.

While digital ID can be convenient and has potential to streamline many
services, it is crucial to be aware of the associated dangers.
Comprehensive security, clear data protection and use regulations, and
transparent oversight to mitigate the risks are imperative to ensure
that any move to increase the use of digital ID in Canada respects
individuals’ rights, safeguards our privacy and enables equitable access
to services.

This article was originally published in The Hamilton Spectator.