The E.U. has recently announced the rollout of its new “Digital ID” regulations which went into effect on Monday, and which are the precursor to the EU’s goal of providing digital identity wallets for all citizens by 2026.
The digital ID project — and digital IDs generally — have drawn widespread concern over the potential for government overreach and the loss of individual liberty.
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“As someone who has tracked the advantages and perils of technology for human rights over the past ten years, I am nevertheless convinced that digital ID, writ large, poses one of the gravest risks to human rights of any technology that we have encountered. Worse, we are rushing headlong into a future where new technologies will converge to make this risk much more severe,” said Brett Solon, founder of the left leaning digital rights non-profit Access now, writing an op-ed for Wired.
The E.U. announcement details the way it plans to implement the system, but does not come with an official date for the widespread rollout of the system.
Under the new regulations, each E.U. country will be required to issue a mobile “digital Id wallet” app, which will be available to all citizens.
The digital Id app will allegedly allow citizens to access both public and private online services and sign in with complete security.
The digital wallet will be an all-in-one place for all sensitive personal information which, although it may be secure from criminal hackers, will be controlled by federal and E.U. authorities.
The wallet will contain drivers licenses, passports, and educational credentials and, although it is not specifically mentioned, would likely include vaccination status for things like the COVID vaccine, which was required for participation in many basic aspects of society during the height of pandemic lockdowns.
The ID wallet would also be used for things like acquiring a SIM card, opening a bank account, signing contracts, verifying online payments, and even collecting prescription medication.
Although each app would be specific to a given E.U. member state, they would be able to interact with each other, and be used across borders in the E.U., essentially serving as an E.U.-wide ID.
“The entry into force of the European digital identity rules is a major step towards the EU’s 2030 goal of giving European citizens the possibility to use a secure and privacy-preserving digital identity. It will give citizens control over their personal data in the digital world and strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty,” said E.U. Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
Currently, the E.U. is promoting its Id wallet as entirely optional, but it is unclear if it will remain optional.
It is possible that, even if the E.U. doesn’t technically mandate the Id, numerous services, both public and private, will begin to require it, essentially forcing reluctant citizens to join the program or risk being unable to obtain basic goods or services, including obtaining potentially life-saving prescription drugs.
In his Wired article, Solon warned that digital ID serves as the basis for China’s social credit system, which locks people out of certain aspects of society based on the Chinese Communist Party’s assessment of their social value.
He believes that, once implemented, digital ID will become mandatory, and could lead to a loss of liberty and would allow the government unprecedented levels of knowledge about a citizen’s personal life.
The E.U. regulation comes shortly after Australia voted to approve its own Digital ID bill, which has now passed through the country’s senate and house.
Coming soon to America ………you better wake up America, once this comes here, the gov. Will have total control over you!
We need an EMP, it is the only way to stop this government from controlling all aspects of our lives. This is the Mark of the Beast
…as we slide down the path to tyranny.
“Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”
John Adams