The US government is moving forward with a controversial plan to implement digital ID verification, which critics warn could lead to an increase in government intrusion and surveillance.
The US Senate is currently debating a bill known as the “Improving Digital Identity Act of 2023”, which would introduce a digital ID verification system. While proponents of the bill argue that it would make transactions more secure, critics are concerned about the potential for government abuse and intrusion of privacy.
Information technologies with data-tracking and/or user-profiling capabilities generate significant privacy concerns, and the implementation of a digital ID system in the US would likely only exacerbate these concerns.
As stated in the bill text, the lack of an easy, affordable, reliable, and secure way for organizations, businesses, and government agencies to identify individuals online creates an attack vector that is widely exploited by adversaries in cyberspace. However, government spying is a real and pressing concern, and the implementation of a digital ID system would give the government access to a wealth of information about individuals.
Critics of the digital ID system warn that it would be a giant con-trick to manipulate people into surveillance and government control, leading to the loss of freedom and human dignity. In Canada, the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms released a report highlighting the privacy concerns surrounding the Canadian digital identification frameworks.
The report states that technologies with data-tracking and user-profiling capabilities generate significant privacy concerns and may also generate additional concerns surrounding freedom, security, equality, consent, and human dignity. These concerns sometimes engage the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to which Canadians should appeal in any contest between privacy rights and government intrusion into properly private spheres of human life.
While digital ID verification may have benefits, it is important to carefully consider the potential drawbacks, particularly regarding government intrusion and surveillance. In the wrong hands, a digital ID system could lead to a significant loss of privacy and freedom. Therefore, it is important to ensure that any digital ID system is built with privacy and security in mind and prevents government abuse. Additionally, the implementation of a digital central bank currency should also be cause for concern. A national digital currency would allow the government to track and monitor individuals’ financial transactions, effectively creating a cashless society and further exacerbating privacy concerns. We must be vigilant and ensure that our rights and freedoms are protected in the digital age.
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