Who Wants to be Legible?

In the past few decades, governments across the globe have introduced digital ID systems, in an attempt to make populations more legible to the state. By 2022, at least 120 countries had biometric passports and 70 had biometric eID cards. In a new study, WZB researchers Lisa Garbe and Alexandra Scacco, and WZB alumni Nina McMurry and Kelly Zhang ask whether the introduction of digital identity documents (eIDs), can reduce inequality or if they exacerbate political inequalities.

Their study, “Who Wants to be Legible? Digitalisation and Intergroup Inequality in Kenya” is based on surveys with more than 2,000 Kenyans in which the reactions to the potential benefits (e.g., easier access to state services) and risks (e.g., increased state surveillance) of introducing eIDs were evaluated – with a particular focus on whether the interviewees are part of a politically marginalized ethnic group.

A key finding of the study is that even though citizens see potential surveillance risks, they are largely positive about eIDs. Yet there is some group-level variation: Marginalized Somali Kenyans are more concerned about the potential for surveillance, and members of the opposition group (Luo) are also more concerned about potential impacts on electoral integrity and political participation.

Nevertheless, while members of marginalized groups acknowledged surveillance risks in field-based qualitative interviews, they expressed hope that eIDs – by facilitating e-governance – can help reduce everyday forms of discrimination, such as they experience in in-person contacts with authorities.

Thus, the study shows surprisingly broad support for expanded legibility. The promise of access to government services appears to outweigh other considerations.