Biometric Identity, Privacy Rights, and Refugee Protection: Legal Challenges in Africa's Digital ID Revolution

Abstract

The proliferation of biometric digital identity systems across Africa presents a complex intersection of technological innovation, human rights protection, and refugee welfare. This paper examines the legal and ethical challenges emerging from Africa's rapid adoption of biometric identification technologies, particularly concerning refugee populations who face unique vulnerabilities in digital identity ecosystems. Through comprehensive analysis of regulatory frameworks, case studies from multiple African nations, and international human rights law, this research reveals significant gaps between technological implementation and legal protection mechanisms. The study demonstrates that while biometric systems offer unprecedented opportunities for service delivery and identity verification, they simultaneously create substantial risks to privacy rights, data security, and refugee protection. Drawing on empirical evidence from Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and regional biometric initiatives, this paper identifies critical legal challenges including inadequate data protection legislation, surveillance concerns, and the potential for discriminatory exclusion. The findings underscore the urgent need for harmonized legal frameworks that balance technological advancement with fundamental human rights, particularly for displaced populations who depend on these systems for accessing essential services and legal protections.