Digital identity systems have great potential but also many pitfalls in implementationPITFALLS IN IDENTITY SYSTEMS Stakeholder rejection •Users may not adopt the system due to poor design or distrust of the system’s purpose or structure •Stakeholders may perceive systems with limited scope and scale as valueless, and therefore not adopt them Ineffective technology •A poor technology platform can reduce system functionality, preventing user integration or transaction completion •Insufficient data protection results in breaches, system compromises and data leakage Limited support •Systems that have support from a narrow set of interests may fail due to inconsistent efforts behind their construction and operation •Systems that lack support from all key stakeholders may not experience sustainable and continuous uptake Unsustainable operation •Systems with unsustainable operating or business models will fail Policy changes •Large, complex and emotive programmes such as ID cards can be susceptible to political and / or ideological shifts Examples of identity system challenges are common… 38 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM | 2016 Many new identity systems are under development around the world in response to the need for digital identity and new technology capabilities. However, not all have been successful, illustrating some of the pitfalls inherent in the construction of identity systems. South Korea at a crossroads with ID card, data theft losses ‐CBC News, October 2014 The National [UK] Identity Card scheme will be abolished within 100 days with all cards becoming invalid -BBC News, May 2010 Philippine electoral records breached in 'largest ever' government hack ‐The Guardian, April 2016 Hack Brief: Turkey Breach Spills Info on More Than Half Its Citizens -WIRED, April 2016 Aadhaar Bill passed in Lok Sabha, Opposition fears ‘surveillance’ -Indian Express, March 2016
