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Identity Platforms and Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation: Implications for Safeguarding Personal Data

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After Latour: Globalisation, Inequity and Climate Change (IFIPJWC 2023)

Part of the book series: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ((IFIPAICT,volume 696))

Abstract

Little is known about how digital identity platforms can be managed and operated in countries where governments have introduced anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. This work-in-progress study explores the tensions associated with digital identity platforms in these contexts. It draws on concepts from actor network theory to analyze field data collected by the authors in the Health Information Systems (HISP) research programme around a digital platform (DHIS2) that is installed in 114 countries globally, primarily in the health sector. The study identifies contradictory interests among the human and non-human actors, and analyzes these according to (1) the operation of a digital identity platform in a legally gray area, (2) visibility and invisibilization of vulnerable populations, and (3) human rights vs neo-colonialism. In particular, the paper identifies the potential for enrollment of the identity platform technology from intended into realities of use in identifying LGBTQ+ individuals and groups, identifying risks of data-induced harm and routes to overcoming them.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 30, 0373, Oslo, Norway

    Katherine Wyers, Brian Nicholson, Scott Russpatrick & Silvia Masiero

  2. Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Booth Street W, Manchester, M15 6PB, UK

    Brian Nicholson

  3. HISP Centre, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 30, 0373, Oslo, Norway

    Scott Russpatrick

Authors
  1. Katherine Wyers
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  2. Brian Nicholson
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  3. Scott Russpatrick
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  4. Silvia Masiero
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine Wyers .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Matthew R. Jones

  2. University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Arunima S. Mukherjee

  3. University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway

    Devinder Thapa

  4. University of Essex, Colchester, UK

    Yingqin Zheng

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Wyers, K., Nicholson, B., Russpatrick, S., Masiero, S. (2023). Identity Platforms and Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation: Implications for Safeguarding Personal Data. In: Jones, M.R., Mukherjee, A.S., Thapa, D., Zheng, Y. (eds) After Latour: Globalisation, Inequity and Climate Change. IFIPJWC 2023. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 696. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50154-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50154-8_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-50153-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-50154-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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