The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the readiness of the EU’s online age verification platform. This platform is a Trojan Horse for digital identity systems, which are intended to create digital gulags around the world. Online age verification traps everyone in its web, not just minors. The app is meant to make the online world safer for children by protecting them from various dangers. It requires proof of age to access online platforms, similar to the COVID pass. This system has raised concerns over privacy and control of data. The app is being adopted by several countries in the EU. The Commission sees this as a success, but it has been criticized for violating basic rights and centralizing power. Naked Capitalism has been warning about the risks of digital health passes and state-controlled digital IDs. Mission creep is a significant concern with these systems. In a recent YouTube presentation, Mandel suggested that SMART Health Cards could potentially serve as IDs for commercial activities, like renting a car. This concept aligns with the ongoing development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) worldwide, raising concerns that digital vaccine passports could pave the way for a fully digital currency system, replacing physical cash. Although nothing is set in stone, the transition to a broader digital ID system, coupled with a CBDC, could make opting out extremely challenging and expose individuals to unprecedented levels of surveillance and control.
Moreover, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged the Commission’s efforts to create a European Age Verification App, following the same principles as the Green Pass. This initiative aims to coordinate with EU leaders to implement a system for banning social media access for minors across member states. While the Commission stresses that the digital identity wallet supporting the app will be voluntary, similar assurances have been made in the past before such systems became de facto mandatory, as seen with India’s Aadhaar program and the EU’s digital vaccine certificate.
Despite claims of being voluntary, the age verification app could become a requirement for accessing essential services and platforms, as illustrated by proposed regulations in Germany tying social media access to the EUDI Wallet. The EU’s Digital Decade target further aims for widespread adoption of digital ID solutions, hinting at a potential shift towards mandatory usage. While some components of the app are open source, the final app downloaded on users’ phones is provided by national governments or their service providers, integrated into national digital wallets. The national versions of these systems are not completely open source, as certain parts such as the backend infrastructure, servers, connection to government databases, and national adaptations can remain proprietary and hidden. This lack of transparency poses a significant risk as the true power, control, and data flows behind the scenes are not fully disclosed. This modular system keeps important aspects locked away, creating potential dangers. Additionally, security flaws have been quickly identified in the app’s architecture, raising concerns about data privacy and protection. Third-party companies managing digital age verification systems have also experienced data breaches, highlighting the risks associated with these technologies. Despite warnings from various sources, governments are pushing forward with online age verification systems, further compromising privacy and security. The growing use of VPNs to bypass these requirements underscores the public’s resistance to such invasive measures. This trend towards increased surveillance and control by governments is occurring amidst a broader context of repressive measures being implemented in the name of security. In the United Kingdom, Silkie Carlo, the director of Big Brother Watch, highlights that police are arresting 30 people daily for online posts, resulting in almost 150,000 “non-crime” hate incidents over the past decade. The UK government is also cracking down on protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, resorting to undemocratic tactics and corrupting the jury system to silence antiwar activists.
Furthermore, Brussels and Washington are imposing starvation blockades on individuals who challenge Israel’s actions in Gaza or question the EU’s decisions in Ukraine, leading to what is referred to as “civil death.” These individuals have their assets frozen, banking services blocked, and participation in the official economy severely restricted without judicial oversight or legal hearings.
Governments and corporations are pushing for full digitization and tokenization while also implementing internet controls with digital ID checkpoints to eliminate digital privacy and anonymity. This aligns with a 2018 World Economic Forum report acknowledging that verifiable identities create new business opportunities but also control individuals’ access to the digital world.
The integration of these measures is leading towards a digital gulag, as discussed in the book “Scanned: Why Vaccine Passports and Digital IDs Will Mean the End of Privacy and Personal Freedom.” The article warns of the increasing control and surveillance in the digital realm, posing a threat to individual freedoms and privacy. sentence: “The cat sat lazily in the sunbeam, purring contentedly.”
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