Algerian Administration To Record Citizens' DNA Electronically, Digitise Identities

Algerian administration is preparing a project for the digitisation of citizens’ personal data starting from the bio metric passport, and the ratification of the civil status documents electronically, paving the way for the registration of DNA electronically.

This project began with the pilgrims, a procedure, that will raise controversy, according to some lawyers in the Algerian family after generalising it, while it will besiege the crime in all its aspects.

Expert in information and communication technologies and bioinformatics, Younes Kerrar, told Echorouk that the Algerians’ personal life will be surrounded by the technological evolution, and in return it will realise security, after the proliferation of cameras in public institutions, in the streets and even in mosques, and it will facilitate the transfer of citizens personal data digitally, to identify the perpetrators of crimes and through their mobile phones they can determine their whereabouts, revealing that the Algerian administration will add the DNA data for each Algerian citizen.

Procedure started with the Algerian pilgrims who travelled to the holy sites, after the events of Mecca in the recent years, and which left the disappearance of some pilgrims or death in mysterious circumstances; adding that Algeria will start recording DNA of newborns to circulate it to the rest of the citizens.

For his part, the head of the National Organisation for the Protection of Prisoners, Ammar Hamdini, told Echorouk, that the human rights’ bodies of several legal organisations in Algeria asked for including DNA in the list of Algerians digitised personal data, which is a necessary procedure, although it will create a large controversy in the Algerian community, given to the issues of paternity, as 90% of them did not reveal the truth.

Problem of paternity becomes more complex in recent years, as the courts recorded dozens of requests by couples to conduct DNA tests on their children, and the result of that  is due to the marital infidelity.

“Some judges refuse to do that, although it is part of the illicit relationship, which makes recording DNA electronically an effective way to uncover the facts”.

Professor Mostafa Khayati, Chairman of the National Commission for the Promotion and Development of Scientific Research, told Echorouk, that the project aims to record Algerians’ DNA electronically, starting from newborns in the paediatrics services, through scientific studies of experts who work on the installation of some genes for newborns analysis where it can adopt prevention policy of some diseases, knowledge of the DNA for the newborn, he tailors.

“This project is arranged after providing all the human potential and the necessary equipment, but did not give a legal permission”.