Is Identity Still Part of Critical Infrastructure?

When I think back to not so long ago, the only way to prove my identity – whether for travel, driving, or accessing government services – was through physical documents. You’d apply to a government office, fill out a form, and wait for the bureaucracy to run its course. This process, while slow, was critical. The government’s ability to issue and verify identity documents was, and still is, a cornerstone of national infrastructure.

But today, the world is rapidly transitioning from physical to digital ID systems, and the approaches to this change across the globe are strikingly varied. While some countries are charging ahead, treating digital ID as a critical part of modern governance, others are hesitant, often due to concerns about privacy, security, and the government’s ability to manage such complex systems.