UNHCR and digital identities: Targeted aid or enhanced surveillance?

Eye

The use of iris scans is now becoming a regular practice in UNHCR's registration activities. Photo: Gerd Altmann / Pixabay

Of: Donya Zikry

In 2015, UNHCR began rolling out the Biometric Identity Management System (BIMS), which collects photos, iris scans and fingerprints of refugees. They are stored in the organization's digital Population Registration and Identity Management Ecosystem (PRIMES), which not only includes BIMS, but also comprises all of UNHCR's digital registration, identity management and case management tools. The […]

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June 1, 2020, Chronicle, English, Magazine

Is a Lebanese Revolution underway?

Protests in Lebanon

Protesting against a corrupt political system: The lebanese protests 2019. Photo: Nadim Kobeissi (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Of: Donya Zikry

In Lebanon, thousands of people are expressing their grievances as the government announced to impose a tax on WhatsApp. Deep structural crises have culminated in one of the largest protests to occur in Lebanon in 14 years.

January 31, 2020, Paper, English, Magazine