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The same thing is happening in Greece. The new mandatory digital ID replaces and unifies everything about citizens in one place, "to make it easier for governme
by a022311 1y ago
The same thing is happening in Greece. The new mandatory digital ID replaces and unifies everything about citizens in one place, "to make it easier for government services to share information between each other". It can indeed be useful, but the privacy implications are enormous. Just imagine that a policeman, employer or anybody else with access to the information linked to the ID can instantly view our medical records, tax status and even simpler things like if we've ever been caught driving while drunk. Nobody knows what other information could be attached to it, but it's certain that it can be used to discriminate against us.
The worst part is that we no longer have any power to do something about it. Eventually, after it goes through the testing phase in the UK and Greece (and a few other countries where it's being implemented), this will probably roll out on a global scale, making privacy impossibly. I'm starting to get this feeling that in the next decade, we'll be living in 1984...
- asah 1y ago??? do not rely on incompetence for privacy. anyway, privacy is dead - longer conversation, but even if you don't carry your cell, there's cameras everywhere with face/gate recognition.
- BeefySwain 1y agoDo you mean gait recognition?
- asah 1y agoLol yes, bad auto complete :-)
- EasyMark 1y agoIt doesn't have to be dead, that's a choice we made as a society. It's an artificial limitation if people wake up and vote against it while they still can
- bilvar 1y agoHow can they do this? The next election in UK is in 4 years.
- logicchains 1y ago>The worst part is that we no longer have any power to do something about it. That's not true. If a large enough mob of citizens went to the capital, burned down the government building and harassed MPs on the street (and followed them to their homes), as recently happened in Nepal and before that in Bangladesh, things would change very quickly.
- lotsoweiners 1y agoExactly! Creativity is dead to so many people.
- freedomben 1y agoWith no privacy though, how do you even talk about it with enough people to organize?
- logicchains 1y agoThe same way people did before the internet? The American revolution didn't require E2E encrypted communication, nor did the French one.
- freedomben 1y agoNo, but the government also didn't have the communication and organization ability either. Imagine if the British generals could have communicated in real-time with London, or had spy satellites that could watch the revolutionary troops in real time, or had the ability to fire missiles thousands of miles with extreme precision. There would absolutely be no USA if they had
- octo888 1y agoIn the UK, if this comment could be traced to your ID/address, you'd be arrested likely on terrorism charges.
- logicchains 1y ago
- NicuCalcea 1y ago> Just imagine that a policeman, employer or anybody else with access to the information linked to the ID can instantly view our medical records, tax status and even simpler things like if we've ever been caught driving while drunk Why would I imagine that? There are privacy implications, but a unique ID doesn't mean everyone has access to all your data at any time for any reason.
- array_key_first 1y agoAll it takes is one breach or vulnerability and then yes, they DO have access to all your data. Imagine someone steals your driver's license. No biggie. Now imagine they steal your identity which is linked to everything you ever do.
- jama211 1y agoBut that’s already the case without a digital id. It’s not like those accounts aren’t already linked together.
- hereme888 1y agoBreach = data for all citizens. Card = one person, limited use. But most importantly: a Hitler rises to power = opposition is screwed.
- pezezin 1y agoAh, good old Godwin's law... If a Hitler rises to power you will be screwed with or without an ID card, so please don't use such a silly argument.
- protocolture 1y agoDoesnt have to be a Hitler, imagining the worst case scenario for laws is absolutely apt. Consider the Australian Access and Assistance bill. Among other things, it permits ministers to issue TCN's verbally. As far as we know (theres no oversight) this hasnt been done. But its concerning that the government can verbally require a corporation to (open endedly) change app functionality. It would be better if Jim Hitler, had to fight the existing democracy to erode our freedoms, rather than just having to ask a minister to make it so. Its absolutely better to assume the worst case than the best.
- drnick1 1y ago> The worst part is that we no longer have any power to do something about it. Perhaps it is time for the Greek to dust off their guillotines.
- ForHackernews 1y agoMaybe I'm too cynical but from where I'm sitting Google and Apple already have all the info about citizens in a giant database that they use for their own purposes. Why are we upset that the government might create a more limited database? The cows are long since out of the barn on "don't collect a giant database of everyone's personal information"
- ninalanyon 1y agoBecause Google and Apple can't use it to control where and with whom you work, live, play, etc., but the government can.
- ForHackernews 1y agoa) The government can subpoena Google, Apple etc. for whatever information they want - or not even subpoena, often they ask nicely and the companies hand over any data requested. b) Many people are extremely angry about immigration. They very much want the government to control "where and with whom [certain other people] work, live, play"
- sterlind 1y agoI'm upset by all of it, which is why I've de-Googled.
- Flere-Imsaho 1y agoThe worst genocides in history were commited by governments against their own citizens. Central databases like the UK proposal is a bad idea if your concerned about current or future bad actor states. American companies, whilst pulling off some seriously unpleasant capatalistic practices, haven't committed genocide at least!
- ForHackernews 1y agoIs your theory that somehow the US government is prepared to commit a genocide but not prepared to make a copy of Google's database?