After years of delays and criticism from civil society regarding inadequate data protection, the Tunisian parliament has approved two draft laws concerning biometric identity cards and passports.
The Rights and Liberties Committee of the Assembly of the People’s Representatives endorsed the Biometric ID and Passport Laws at the end of February. These draft laws were adopted on Wednesday with a significant majority, according to the business news agency Zawya.
In a notable decision, lawmakers rejected an amendment that aimed to prevent the Tunisian Ministry of Interior from establishing a centralized biometric database, which was introduced just a day before the vote.
This development has drawn criticism from digital rights organization Access Now and its civil society partners in Tunisia. Over the years, rights advocates have expressed concerns about the potential for data breaches, emphasizing that the existing 2004 Data Protection Law is outdated. Groups like Access Now have cautioned against implementing a mandatory biometric ID system without adequate data protection and privacy measures.
“Since 2016, civil society in Tunisia has been raising alarms about the Biometric ID Bill, insisting on strong human rights guarantees and safeguards,” stated Kassem Mnejja, MENA campaigner at Access Now. “Unfortunately, many of the issues raised eight years ago remain unaddressed.”
The implementation of the biometric ID project will fall under the National Personal Data Protection Instance. However, critics argue that this data protection agency lacks the necessary authority to enforce effective privacy and security measures.
