Namibia scraps mandatory collection of biometric data during nationwide SIM card registration exercise

WINDHOEK, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) on Friday issued a directive to telecommunications operators that the mandatory capturing of biometric data will no longer be required for SIM card registration, in the absence of a data protection legislative framework.

Namibia in January commenced with the mandatory SIM card registration exercise, a national initiative aimed at facilitating the investigation of crimes committed with the aid of telecommunications devices and enhancing e-commerce activities and online trading.

The directive follows complaints from the public and members of the media regarding the practice by some mobile operators of requesting biometric data during the registration process, said CRAN Chief Executive Emilia Nghikembua in a statement.

"Operators will only require the information as set out in the regulations, which includes, the name of the customer, address of ordinary residence, and his/her Namibian ID, passport, or any other official identity document issued by the government of any other country. Customers who, however, voluntarily choose to provide their biometrics data are welcome to do so," she said.

Nghikembua said to meet the objectives of the SIM registration process, all operators going forward will allow customers to register their SIM cards via processes that do not require the mandatory collection of biometric data.

Telecommunications service providers in Namibia meanwhile have a period of 12 months to conclude the registration of all existing customers and must do so before the deadline of Dec. 31, 2023, while unregistered SIM cards after the due date will be deactivated.