Activists raised privacy concerns as France unveiled its new digital national identity card. Are the claims of government overreach justified or have identity documents become an easy target? WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: France's new national identity card sparks privacy fears

Simgapore is set to become the first in the world to use facial verification for national identity cards, which will allow citizens to access private and government services.

The service was earlier tested in a bank, and after its successful trial, it is now being rolled out all over the country.

This technology has been designed by a UK-based company called&nbsp;iProov. As per the initial reports, it has been understood that this technology will help not only recognise the&nbsp;face but also test if the concerned person is actually present there.

"You have to make sure that the person is genuinely present when they authenticate, that you're not looking at a photograph or a video or a replayed recording or a deepfake," said Andrew Bud, founder and chief executive of iProov.

The technology will be combined with Singapore's&nbsp;digital identity scheme SingPass, allowing participants to access government services.

"This is the first time that cloud-based face verification has been used to secure the identity of people who are using a national digital identity scheme," said Bud.

Facial verification technology will also help the police authorities get alerted when a criminal walks past.

"Face recognition has all sorts of social implications. Face verification is extremely benign," Bud said.

While the technology is new and exciting for few, some feel it might give access to the government into locals' private matters too.&nbsp;

However, as of now, the government is not planning to regulate or restrict the technology. "We don't really restrict how this digital face verification can be used, as long as it complies with our requirements," said Kwok Quek Sin, senior director of national digital identity at GovTech Singapore.

"And the basic requirement is that it is done with consent and with the awareness of the individual."

Technology partners and companies think many countries, who have a common national identity card/system, might want to join in on this revolutionary idea soon.

Simgapore is set to become the first in the world to use facial verification for national identity cards, which will allow citizens to access private and government services.

Simgapore is set to become the first in the world to use facial verification for national identity cards, which will allow citizens to access private and government services. The service was earlier tested in a bank, and after its successful trial, it is now being rolled out all over the country. This technology has been designed by a UK-based company called iProov. As per the initial reports, it has been understood that this technology will help not only recognise the face but also test if the concerned person is actually present there. "You have to make sure that the person is genuinely present when they authenticate, that you're not looking at a photograph or a video or a replayed recording or a deepfake," said Andrew Bud, founder and chief executive of iProov. The technology will be combined with Singapore's digital identity scheme SingPass, allowing participants to access government services. "This is the first time that cloud-based face verification has been used to secure the identity of people who are using a national digital identity scheme," said Bud. Facial verification technology will also help the police authorities get alerted when a criminal walks past. "Face recognition has all sorts of social implications. Face verification is extremely benign," Bud said. While the technology is new and exciting for few, some feel it might give access to the government into locals' private matters too. However, as of now, the government is not planning to regulate or restrict the technology. "We don't really restrict how this digital face verification can be used, as long as it complies with our requirements," said Kwok Quek Sin, senior director of national digital identity at GovTech Singapore. "And the basic requirement is that it is done with consent and with the awareness of the individual." Technology partners and companies think many countries, who have a common national identity card/system, might want to join in on this revolutionary idea soon.

Singapore becomes first to use facial verification in national ID

Afghanistan's&nbsp;President Ashraf Ghani has signed into law an amendment stating that women's names will be included on children's&nbsp;ID cards.

The decision was long overdue as the women campaigners had ben fighting for their rights for more than three years now.

Working under the hashtag of #WhereIsMyName, a campaign was launched three years ago and it was successful in getting attention from high-profile personalities form the entertainemtn and political world.

As per the new amendment, the names of mothers will also now be included on the national ID cards, ending decades-long practise of keeping women behind the curtains.

Women in Afghanistan do not have their names listen at majority of the places — from weddings cards to tombstones. The practice was brought to light under this campaign and activists have since been fighting to abolish it.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-negotiators-to-discuss-reduction-of-violence-in-taliban-talks-327203">Also read:&nbsp;Afghan negotiators to discuss reduction of violence in Taliban talks</a>

Under the campaign, celebrities and locals started introducing themselves with their mother's name on social media.

"There is no doubt that this victory is the result of persistent campaign and consonance among the campaigners and citizens," she said.

"The government also stood by the citizens, and I express my gratitude to the president himself and his deputies for their support. I also thank everyone, men and women who supported our campaign and raised their voice, and congratulate all equal rights campaigners [on this victory]," Laleh Osmany, founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, told the BBC Afghan service.

The decision has come at an important time when Afghainstan government and Taliban are trying to establish a peace deal.

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has signed into law an amendment stating that women's names will be included on children's ID cards. The decision was long overdue as the women campaigners had ben fighting for their rights for more than three years now.

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has signed into law an amendment stating that women's names will be included on children's ID cards. The decision was long overdue as the women campaigners had ben fighting for their rights for more than three years now. Working under the hashtag of #WhereIsMyName, a campaign was launched three years ago and it was successful in getting attention from high-profile personalities form the entertainemtn and political world. As per the new amendment, the names of mothers will also now be included on the national ID cards, ending decades-long practise of keeping women behind the curtains. Women in Afghanistan do not have their names listen at majority of the places — from weddings cards to tombstones. The practice was brought to light under this campaign and activists have since been fighting to abolish it. Also read: Afghan negotiators to discuss reduction of violence in Taliban talks Under the campaign, celebrities and locals started introducing themselves with their mother's name on social media. "There is no doubt that this victory is the result of persistent campaign and consonance among the campaigners and citizens," she said. "The government also stood by the citizens, and I express my gratitude to the president himself and his deputies for their support. I also thank everyone, men and women who supported our campaign and raised their voice, and congratulate all equal rights campaigners [on this victory]," Laleh Osmany, founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, told the BBC Afghan service. The decision has come at an important time when Afghainstan government and Taliban are trying to establish a peace deal.

Afghanistan women to have names included on national ID card after #WhereIsMyName trends

Afghanistan has been living under the shadow of war for 18 years now. For the women of Afghanistan, these 18 years have been a nightmare. Their plight has been largely hidden away due to the repressive social norms.

While no one knows when peace will return to Afghanistan, the women have secured a major victory as the Afghan government has announced that the name of the mother will now be printed on every identity card in Afghanistan.

In most countries around the world,&nbsp;one's mother's name will be part of the government records, and any form without mother's name is considered incomplete. However, in Afghanistan, sharing your mother's name is considered a matter of shame.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-womens-names-can-now-appear-on-afghan-govt-id-325081/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After a relentless campaign, the women in Afghanistan have registered a small victory. Afghan citizens will soon have the names of their mother printed along with their father. It will appear on Afghanistan's national identification card.

For three years now, #WhereIsMyName has been amplifying the voices of women. It's a significant effort in a country like Afghanistan where even using a woman's name in public is frowned upon. So much so, many consider it an insult&nbsp; — enough to trigger violence.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/female-poverty-rate-in-south-asia-projected-to-rise-due-to-covid-19-un-324975">Also read|&nbsp;Female poverty rate in South Asia projected to rise due to covid-19: UN&nbsp;</a>

Women are referred to in vague terms such as 'Mother of children', 'My household' and 'My weak one'. Men in remote towns even use names of animals such as goat and chicken.

Afghanistan wasn't always so misogynistic. In the 1960s and early 70s,&nbsp;it had a very progressive outlook. Women could pursue an education, get a job and even vote in an election. Women in Afghanistan got the right to vote in 1919, a&nbsp;year before women were allowed to cast their ballot in the United States.

However, all of this changed with the rise of the Taliban.

In 2011, Afghanistan was ranked the most dangerous country for women. In the last two decades, women have gone back to school and they hold important government jobs. However,&nbsp;the threat from the Taliban is persistent. By November 2019, nearly 6,500 cases of violence against women were recorded.

With the United States chasing a peace deal in Afghanistan, women fear that their voices will be left out. At this time of uncertainty, the decision to add names of mothers on government identification is a boost for women rights.

This is a change that still requires parliamentary approval. Officials are confident the amendment will sail through.&nbsp;

The lawmakers may have taken a small step here, but for the women of Afghanistan, this is a giant leap towards equality.

Afghanistan has been living under the shadow of war for 18 years now. For the women of Afghanistan, these 18 years have been a nightmare. Their plight has been largely hidden away due to the repressive social norms.

Afghanistan has been living under the shadow of war for 18 years now. For the women of Afghanistan, these 18 years have been a nightmare. Their plight has been largely hidden away due to the repressive social norms. While no one knows when peace will return to Afghanistan, the women have secured a major victory as the Afghan government has announced that the name of the mother will now be printed on every identity card in Afghanistan. In most countries around the world, one's mother's name will be part of the government records, and any form without mother's name is considered incomplete. However, in Afghanistan, sharing your mother's name is considered a matter of shame. After a relentless campaign, the women in Afghanistan have registered a small victory. Afghan citizens will soon have the names of their mother printed along with their father. It will appear on Afghanistan's national identification card. For three years now, #WhereIsMyName has been amplifying the voices of women. It's a significant effort in a country like Afghanistan where even using a woman's name in public is frowned upon. So much so, many consider it an insult — enough to trigger violence. Also read| Female poverty rate in South Asia projected to rise due to covid-19: UN Women are referred to in vague terms such as 'Mother of children', 'My household' and 'My weak one'. Men in remote towns even use names of animals such as goat and chicken. Afghanistan wasn't always so misogynistic. In the 1960s and early 70s, it had a very progressive outlook. Women could pursue an education, get a job and even vote in an election. Women in Afghanistan got the right to vote in 1919, a year before women were allowed to cast their ballot in the United States. However, all of this changed with the rise of the Taliban. In 2011, Afghanistan was ranked the most dangerous country for women. In the last two decades, women have gone back to school and they hold important government jobs. However, the threat from the Taliban is persistent. By November 2019, nearly 6,500 cases of violence against women were recorded. With the United States chasing a peace deal in Afghanistan, women fear that their voices will be left out. At this time of uncertainty, the decision to add names of mothers on government identification is a boost for women rights. This is a change that still requires parliamentary approval. Officials are confident the amendment will sail through. The lawmakers may have taken a small step here, but for the women of Afghanistan, this is a giant leap towards equality.

Taliban's defeat: Mother's name to be added in Afghanistan's nation ID cards

The Pakistan government today directed the interior ministry to block the national identity card (NIC) and passport of former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, a media report said today.

Complying with a special court's order, the government took the action to restrict the Dubai-based former president's travel and certain facilities available to him as he failed to appear before the court in the high treason case against him.

The National Data Base and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Immigration and Passport Directorate were directed to undertake the action, the Express Tribune reported.

Musharraf would not be able to travel abroad and would also be unable to avail the facility of banking transactions.

"He will also be barred from sale and purchase of his properties in Pakistan and abroad," the daily said quoting a source.

The special court had ordered the government to arrest the former president and confiscate all his properties while hearing the high treason case against the "proclaimed offender" for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007.

The treason case was instituted on the charges of subverting the Constitution by imposing "emergency rule" on November 3, 2007.

On April 7, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar proposed fresh composition of the special bench, led by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Yawar Ali, but the federal government is yet to issue a formal notification.

Musharraf, 74, was indicted in March, 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in 2007 which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges.

The special court had earlier directed the Interior Ministry to approach the Interpol for the arrest of Musharraf.

A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. He is wanted in Pakistan in several criminal cases including in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Complying with a special court's order, the government took the action to restrict the Dubai-based former president's travel and certain facilities available to him as he failed to appear before the court in the high treason case against him

The Pakistan government today directed the interior ministry to block the national identity card (NIC) and passport of former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, a media report said today. Complying with a special court's order, the government took the action to restrict the Dubai-based former president's travel and certain facilities available to him as he failed to appear before the court in the high treason case against him. The National Data Base and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Immigration and Passport Directorate were directed to undertake the action, the Express Tribune reported. Musharraf would not be able to travel abroad and would also be unable to avail the facility of banking transactions. "He will also be barred from sale and purchase of his properties in Pakistan and abroad," the daily said quoting a source. The special court had ordered the government to arrest the former president and confiscate all his properties while hearing the high treason case against the "proclaimed offender" for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007. The treason case was instituted on the charges of subverting the Constitution by imposing "emergency rule" on November 3, 2007. On April 7, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar proposed fresh composition of the special bench, led by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Yawar Ali, but the federal government is yet to issue a formal notification. Musharraf, 74, was indicted in March, 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in 2007 which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges. The special court had earlier directed the Interior Ministry to approach the Interpol for the arrest of Musharraf. A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. He is wanted in Pakistan in several criminal cases including in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Pakistan government to block Musharraf's national identity card, passport