Concerns around data privacy and trust dominated discussions at the National Identification (NID) consultation held this morning.

Participants raised doubts about the need for a new identification platform, noting that existing forms of ID are still required for essential services such as voting and obtaining a driver’s licence.

This prompted questions about whether the new system would truly replace current processes or simply add another layer.

The proposed NID initiative aims to create a single, secure, and voluntary form of identification for all Fijian citizens and residents.

It is designed to reduce reliance on multiple fragmented documents, including Voter IDs, Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), and FNPF cards.

However, for many at the consultation, the central issue was not convenience, but trust.

Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Esala Masitabua, acknowledged the concerns, stating that the system is intended to improve the current identification framework and align Fiji with international best practices.

“We feel that this is an improvement from the current system that we have… people are frustrated with having to submit different documents to different institutions. This has the potential to improve all that,” Masitabua said.

He added that biometric features such as fingerprint identification would strengthen security and make identity theft more difficult.

Despite these assurances, questions remained about how personal data would be stored, accessed, and protected.

National ID Programme representative David Solvalu said the system is consent-based and participation is entirely voluntary.

He stressed that the platform is built with high-level data protection standards, but admitted that public confidence remains a key challenge.

“This system is consent-based… it has the highest standard of protection, and it is up to you to decide whether to be part of this system,” Solvalu said.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji is currently spearheading the initiative, highlighting its potential to also strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering framework through improved electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) systems.

However, the programme will ultimately be led by the government, through the Ministry of Policing and Communications.

Public consultations are expected to be rolled out to the rest of the country in the coming days.