Myanmar: Human Rights Analysis of Biometric Digital ID Systems Saw Kyaw Aung was quoted as saying that Myanmar should consider the experiences of other countries with digital ID regimes and consult with local and international experts.60 No detailed information on the scope of the project has been made publicly available so far. However, the new digital ID system would reportedly collect individuals’ biometric data, assign them a unique identity (UID) number and register their data in a database.61 It is also not clear what biometric data would be used. The 2017 pilot reportedly involved fingerprints, photographs and iris scans.62 A July 2020 news report suggests that the smartcard would include “personal information of the holder such as photograph, address, employment, blood type, and finger print.”63 The project appears to have several international backers. The 2017 pilot was reportedly supported by the World Bank, the International Organisation for Migration and some private companies.64 Austria is providing an interest-free loan to support the development of the digital ID system,65 while Austrian company OeSD will be involved in project implementation.66 French multinational company Thales Group is also supporting the project.67 It appears that some data collection for the digital ID database has already begun. In May 2019, the Minister of Labour, Immigration and Population said that the agency had already digitised the information of some 1.3 million citizens. According to a news release, this data has been gathered from telecom operators, Myanmar passport offices, offices issuing overseas labour certificates and the Certificates of Identification issued to migrant workers in Thailand. 68 2.4 Biometric Data Collection Despite not having in place a strong legal framework for this, there appear to be some initiatives underway already to collect biometric data. The most notable of these is biometric data collection linked to mandatory SIMs card registration. Since 2017, Myanmar has required phone operators to register buyers of each SIM card sold, including the subscriber’s name, citizenship ID, birth 60 Chan Mya Htwe, ibid. E-IDs Fundamental to E-Governance, note 59. 62 Aung Kyaw Min, note 57. 63 Myanmar Business Today, Myanmar Working on e-ID for its e-Government Goal, 27 July 2020. Available at: https://mmbiztoday.com/myanmar-working-on-e-id-for-its-e-government-goal. 64 Aung Kyaw Min, note 57. 65 Sit Htet Aung, Austria Agrees to Fund Electronic National ID, 23 October 2019, available at: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/austria-agrees-fund-electronic-national-id.html; and Myanmar News Agency, EIDs Fundamental to E-Governance: U Thein Swe, 23 January 2020, available at: https://www.gnlm.com.mm/e-idsfundamental-to-e-governance-u-thein-swe. 66 Myanmar News Agency, E-ID System Working Committee Discusses Finishing Touches to Contract with Austrian Company, 2 November 2019. Available at: https://www.gnlm.com.mm/e-id-system-working-committeediscusses-finishing-touches-to-contract-with-austrian-company. 67 Myanmar International Television, E-ED/E-Passport: Workshop Jointly Organised with MOLIP and Thales, 22 January 2020. Available at: https://www.myanmaritv.com/news/e-ide-passport-workshop-jointly-organized-molipand-thales. 68 Myanmar Times, Government Begins Digitizing Personal Information for ID cards, 9 May 2019. Available at: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/govt-begins-digitising-personal-information-id-cards.html. 61 - 12 -