The article, written by Nick Corbishley via NakedCapitalism.com, discusses the broken promises made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK, after his landslide election victory. Despite pledging to tread lightly on the lives of voters, Starmer’s approval rating has plummeted due to his failure to uphold his promises. His government’s actions, such as raising taxes on working people and increasing student tuition fees, have sparked outrage among the public.
Moreover, the article highlights the establishment of a new government office, the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (ODIA), which aims to oversee the UK’s digital identity market. This move is part of the British State’s plan to exert greater control over people’s lives through digital surveillance technologies. The article warns of the risks associated with digital identity systems, despite their potential benefits in streamlining bureaucracy and reducing fraud. In a 2018 Wired op-ed titled “Digital IDs Are More Dangerous Than You Think,” Brett Solomon, the then-executive director of Access Now, warned that digital ID poses one of the gravest risks to human rights of any technology encountered. These risks include massive breaches of personal data, hacks, system outages, government and corporate surveillance, and exclusion of individuals without access to mobile devices or the internet. The rollout of programs like Aadhaar in India has shown how digital IDs can limit access to services.
Recent actions by the Keir Starmer government in the UK, such as expanding live facial recognition technology, creating digital health passports, and granting increased surveillance powers to the Department of Work and Pensions, show a trend towards digital identity implementation. The government’s plans to pilot a Central Bank Digital Currency and crackdown on lawful speech further highlight the growing influence of digital identity. Additionally, the government’s use of anti-terror laws to arrest and intimidate pro-Palestinian activists and journalists raises concerns about civil liberties and freedom of speech.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 4, 2024
Declassified UK has uncovered that the Starmer government has sanctioned 100 spy flights over Gaza to aid Israeli intelligence, with 13 out of Starmer’s 25 cabinet members receiving donations from Pro-Israel lobby groups and individuals.
These policies, including crackdowns on protests and free speech, are a continuation and sometimes an escalation of practices that were already in place under the Tories.
Since the UK’s departure from the EU, both Tory and Labour administrations have steered the country towards a more authoritarian path. This trend is not unique to the UK but is prevalent among “liberal democracies” facing economic challenges and advancements in surveillance technologies. The UK seems to be at the forefront of this trend, with no signs of slowing down, especially considering Kier Starmer’s significant parliamentary majority.
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sentence: Can you please rewrite the sentence?