Digital Identity Research Project: The Nigerian Ecosystem
UC San Diego VIS 161: Systems and Networks at Scale
My Motivation —
The African tech scene has always been of interest to me — dissecting the dichotomy of preserving tradition and embracing digitization for the design of sustainable ecosystems. During the time I was enrolled in this course (Sept - Dec 2020), Nigerians worldwide were protesting against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). This group profiles young Nigerians and engage in kidnapping, unlawful arrests, and extortion — all of which have a strong correlation to the possession of technological devices. In addition, it was also reported that government officials tracked some citizens who protested via social media and bank information.
This made me question a lot about the Digital Identity project Nigeria embarked on for the distribution of the National Identification Number (NIN). How will these government officials build and maintain a digital citizen database? What are the fears? What are the possible equitable advantages? Who may this benefit? Who may be left out?
Is Nigeria fit for digitization?
This is my design research project.
Background —
I commenced this project in VIS 161 (Systems and Networks at Scale) taught by Prof. Benjamin Bratton during the Fall 2020 quarter at UCSD. This course introduced several forms of artificiality, not just as artifacts but as systems that can be redesigned: artificial matter, artificial bodies, artificial food, artificial intelligence, artificial vision, artificial linguistics, artificial environments and ecologies. Our final project was to report on our research on one form of “artificiality” we discussed in class; I chose Artificial Environments.
Artificiality here is defined as something deliberately designed -- not as something “fake.” The scale of artificiality we discussed in this course is the geological era that is marked and defined by the activities of the human species, which we referred to as the “Anthropocene.”
Our objective in this era, as characterized by the terraforming of Earth, is to make sure that Earth remains viable for earth-like life. The only way to equitably and inclusively support the billions of people worldwide is to provide the conditions or services of the desired life at scale. The role of automation in a scalable environment is to reduce the work required to manage computational tasks. I decided to research how automation has helped create sustainable artificial environments; and what hinders such developments.
Despite the considerations for new technology, I make statements in my project with the assumption that political change precedes technical change. How is it that politics affect technological advancements, and to what extent? What is the geopolitics of a world that is organized in planetary-scale computation?
Project Details —
Role: Independent Researcher
Course-related texts:
This project is currently on pause, the working paper can be found here.
My Core Research Areas —
Computational sociology
Digital economy
National identification
Algorithmic governance
Public policy
Reflection —
This was my first time being part of an interdisciplinary research-based class. I took this class solely based on curiosity and I am thrilled to have been a part of it — the discussions we had about how technology plays a role in the terraforming of the Earth constantly replay in my mind. The development of “Artificial” systems is very much sociological as it is technical for me. As an EE-ML student, this class fueled my interest in the importance of computational sociology in developing machinic systems. As it is not in my course requirements to learn about the sociological aspects of the tech we develop and how digitization affects / could affect developing nations (like Nigeria), I am glad to have dug a bit deeper into this area of speculative design-based research.
Acknowledgements —
I would like to thank Prof. Bratton for his support and encouragement to take on this project. Also, shout out to my course mates — I appreciate your contribution to the development of this project! Lastly, I would like to thank all those who participated in my project survey. I appreciate you all.
Research Overview —
In our modern world, ubiquitous computing is shaping the way identity is perceived and valued. About 500 million people in Africa lack a legal identity and are excluded from public and public services like finance and healthcare. Nigeria has several identity databases between these private and public sectors, but the main challenge faced is the authentication and cross-validation of a person’s identity across the multiple databases. In 2007, The federal government of Nigeria established the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to “establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria.”
The objective is to harmonize all the data for a single citizen across all identity databases into a central one. Part of the harmonization strategy is providing a platform for the millions of people who may not have any form of identity, referred to as Internally Displaced People (IDPs), to be issued a unique identification number. This has opened up a range of speculative possibilities for the development of the Nigerian economy through the adaptation of digital technologies, like facial recognition systems and cryptocurrency. Even more critically, is redesigning the future of Nigeria.
The model of hyper-scale enrollment poses a critical design challenge for Nigeria’s socio-economic infrastructure. Various concerns around the integration of this urban system have arisen, but are not limited to: trust, privacy, surveillance, digital literacy, accessibility, politics, policy, and regulations. For this project, I would be exploring how these concerns align with the goals and mixed realities of how culture and politics impede economic development in Nigeria.
Research Overview —
In what ways did the EndSARS movement shape your perception of digital identity and technology adaptation in Nigeria?
“A lot needs to change. The government has a lot of work to do. In some ways, it also shed light on the available technology in Nigeria. When the government tries to hide the protest, that’s when we got to see the technology that the government claims it has no money for being used.”
— 18-23 year old survey respondent residing In Nigeria
“It's crazy what we can accomplish with technology and the organization of the endsars protests are a testimony to that. However, the movement also showed the downside of having a central digital identity system. Because of the way our country and govt officials are set up, there will likely be misuse of information. And if there is, perpetrators should be sanctioned. However in a country like Nigeria, if the perpetrator is someone of influence/affluence, there is a high likelihood of them being able to pay their way out of it. In essence I don't believe citizens will be safe during such times if there is a centralized information system. That being said, the idea would be a great development in a country that actually has law and order.”
— 18-23 year old survey respondent residing Outside Nigeria
“Helped me to know that the citizens identity is mostly unknown. Tech adaptation is zero, hence the identity of those who were involved in the shootings and destruction of properties still remain obscure. The identity of those who ordered the shootings still remain a subject of debate due to lack of proper investigative technologies.”
— 40-55 year old survey respondent residing Outside Nigeria
What concerns do you have about privacy and data security in Nigeria?
“I fear the government intends to use this information to track my every move.”
— 18-23 year old survey respondent residing In Nigeria
“I doubt that the data collected is stored on servers in Nigeria. If this is the case, it exposes the country’s information to foreign actors.”
— 24-39 year old survey respondent residing Outside Nigeria
“The government will use it against you when they need to.”
— 40-55 year old survey respondent residing In Nigeria
“Things are done half-heartedly and the system would contain highly confidential information… it poses as a threat to not only individuals but the entire country plus the corrupt leaders who would have access to the system.”
