Parliamentary Committee on National Development and Heritage has requested relevant government institutions to formulate an identity verification database with facial recognition and fingerprints.
The committee has made several proposals in its assessment report on the current state of information and communications technology (ICT) in the Maldives. The members of the parliamentary committee voted unanimously to approve the report.
In the report, the committee made several proposals in the area of information technology. The proposals include establishing a digital agency to assess, develop, and maintain software used in government institutions, and formulating a central database that identifies individuals seeking government services with facial recognition and fingerprinting.
The committee also stated these proposals should be implemented in a way that reduces redundancies and prevents different government institutions from requiring to maintain the systems. In the area of communication technology, the committee proposed to halt anti-competitive practices such as large companies disrupting small businesses.
Other proposals include requesting the Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) to complete the formulation of its regulations as soon as possible. The committee also requested the Chief Technology Officer at the President's Office and Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology to formulate an ICT implementation plan within four months.