Papua New Guinea aims for a country-wide digital identity system

Papua New Guinea is considering the implementation of a country-wide digital identity system by 2025, according to the Papuan publication The National.

Security Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr noted that by 2025 all citizens could be electronically registered to address the lack of formal identification among its population. The government aims to register 95 percent of its population of roughly 9.5 million. The news comes after the country’s Prime Minister James Marape recently said that he wants to be able to institute an India-style electronic voting system utilising biometrics before the country’s upcoming General Election 2027.

The new digital ID system will be able to provide secure and reliable identification for citizens, facilitating access to government services, online transactions, and economic participation. Papua New Guinea also announced it would collaborate with international organisations to develop the necessary infrastructure and technology, utilising biometric identifiers for accuracy and security. The proposed system involves registering personal information and biometric data into a central database protected by robust security measures. Privacy and data protection concerns will be addressed through legislation, regulations, public consultations, and awareness campaigns.