George Orwell, author of 1984, comes from the United Kingdom. So does the TV series Black Mirror. It is no coincidence that the country inspires such visions of the future in its inhabitants. The UK government is currently seduced by totalitarian tendencies, wanting to impose digital ID—a tool for large-scale control—on the population. But the population is mobilizing en masse!
2 million people against digital identity in the United Kingdom
The “Do not introduce digital ID card” petition in the United Kingdom has just passed the 2 million signature mark.
It is a veritable democratic tidal wave. Faced with the UK Prime Minister’s push for digital identity, the country’s population is mobilizing to defend its freedom. It all started with one man, Maxim Sutcliff. By launching a petition on the government’s official website, he is shaking up the executive branch. His request is simple: “Do not introduce digital ID cards.”
We ask the British government to immediately commit to not introducing digital ID cards.
Petition by Maxim Sutcliff
On the other side, there is one man: Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom did not see fit to seek the opinion of the people, or even of Parliament, before imposing the digital ID card.
However, this will not be insignificant. In the Prime Minister’s own words: “No one will be able to work in the United Kingdom without a digital ID card.”
For the politician, this is a “great opportunity” for the country.
The digital ID card will also offer countless benefits to citizens, such as the ability to prove their identity to quickly access essential services.
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
This is precisely what is disturbing about this measure, which has dystopian overtones. A centralized digital identity that grants—or denies—access to public services paves the way for widespread control of the population. Responding to these concerns, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government had “no intention of pursuing a dystopian project.”
We must therefore take the government at its word. But if this digital identity is so good, why not put it to a vote in Congress? Why not build it together with citizens? This push to force it through is a dystopian project in itself.
Totalitarian excesses, a sinister trend in Europe
This is not the first time this government has moved towards totalitarianism. Not long ago, the country introduced identity checks for access to many websites. Notably, a whole host of subreddits.
This measure was supposed to protect children from pornographic and terrorist content. But soon, all subreddits supporting the Palestinian cause were blocked. This is a serious violation of freedom of expression and democratic debate.
Today, this is no longer a conspiracy or convoluted theory.
The control tools available to the government are already being used to impose a worldview and silence dissenting voices. The violence with which the prime minister is imposing digital identity and controlling his population should raise awareness on the other side of the Channel. In France and Europe, the European Union’s Chat Control regulation is under review.
On October 14, the interior ministers of the various EU countries will have to decide on this issue. Once again, under the guise of child protection and the fight against terrorism, the government is putting in place tools that could very quickly be turned against anyone who expresses an opinion contrary to the official dogma.
Bitcoin was created precisely in a spirit of struggle and freedom. With our leaders obsessed with control, will cryptocurrencies become our only hope?
