Personal data collection under controversial e-grama nildari project irks public
The Sri Lanka government has resurrected another stalled project of collecting personal data of the people for a digital database at grama niladhari divisional level in addition to similar initiatives of setting up of various databases for e–passport, e–national identity card, e-driving licence etc.
This much delayed e-grama niladari project initiated in 2017 has now been given a new outlook by digitising the household registry, which was normally kept under lock and key at the grama niladhari’s office.
The aim is to utilise this community – based database of ‘e–grama niladhari’ project instead of using the previously existing householders’ register for the official purposes of personal data.
The government has allocated a massive sum of Rs.750 million for the project in the year 2017 but only a meagre amount of 0.4 per cent or Rs. 3,320,380 had been spent so far, an audit inspection of the Auditor General’s Department revealed,
The procurement process of the project had been suspended after entering into contracts with the suppliers, the report highlighted adding that the shortcomings in the presentation of relevant cabinet papers further delayed the implementation of the project. The Ministry of State for Home Affairs has resumed the resurrection of the programme directing grama niladaris to collect personal data of householders in their divisions.
Householders’ lists are confined to only basic details of the householder and occupants but the current comprehensive system includes all personal details.
Quite apart from exposing confidential details, there are the inherent risks of holding the nation’s entire identity information in a central database that is accessed by various government and possibly private entities, several social activists, community organisations and socio economic experts said.
As a whole, the system could open itself to all sorts of abuse by errant individuals or organised groups.
Having access to people’s linked data on all activities the person has with the state, their family and perhaps bank details is a worrying amount of information that could be at a few people’s disposal, they added.
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