A Guide to Litigating Identity Systems
system. Justice Sykes, while discussing the right to privacy in Jamaica
generally, focuses much of his analysis on the concept of choice.217 In
finding the system unconstitutional, Justice Sykes cites the improper
compulsory taking of biometric information from individuals.218 Justice
Batts echoes this view, finding that the right to privacy is violated partly
because of the absence of a right to opt out of the system. 219 Justice
Batts also finds the provision of the system requiring the establishment of
a national database for the “collection and collation of identity
information and demographic information regarding registrable
individuals” constitutional, where the data included in the database is
voluntarily given, although the system as a whole is rejected.220 Each of
these facets of the Jamaican Supreme Court’s analysis points to the
particular importance of consent in the constitutionality of an identity
system.
c) The Mauritian Supreme Court highlights the absence of sufficient
safeguards for the use of fingerprint data stored as part of the Mauritian
national identity system.221 In particular, the court isolates the provisions of
the Mauritian Data Protection Act, which create exceptions to the
requirement that an individual’s express consent is obtained prior to the
processing of personal biometric data.222 The relevant data protection
regime would allow for the sharing of data without consent to many
actors, including law enforcement, artists, healthcare providers, financial
firms, and lawyers.223 The absence of individual consent for such access, in
217 See Opinion of Justice Sykes, ¶ 247(A)(10).
218 Opinion of Justice Sykes, ¶ 247(B)(52).
219 Opinion of Justice Batts, ¶ 349.
220 Opinion of Justice Batts, ¶ 348.
221 Madhewoo, 2015 SCJ 177 at 29–34.
222 Madhewoo, 2015 SCJ 177 at 32.
223 Madhewoo, 2015 SCJ 177 at 32.
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