Despite the concerns about digital privacy being invaded by the "vaccine passports" that Europe has demanded of travelers, the EU is pressing ahead with plans to launch a "digital wallet" that would carry digital copies of a drivers' license and credit cards (sort of like Apple Pay does) as Europe continues its transition away from cash.
According to the FT, the EU is preparing to unveil its plans for the bloc-wide "digital wallet" on Wednesday. The product is the result of what Brussels described as several states' demands for the EU to create a digital tool to access important records and other products and services via the smartphone.
The EU's Thierry Breton
A digital wallet could store payment details and passwords, and allow citizens from all 27 countries to log into local government websites or pay utility bills or perhaps even merchants using a single recognized identity.
Like with other smartphone apps, the digital wallets will be accessed via fingerprint and/or retina scanning. It can also serve as a vault where users can store official documents such as a driver’s license. Using the wallet will not be compulsory, but EU citizens who chose to sign up would benefit from an extra-secure digital ecosystem and greater flexibility ideal for post-pandemic life.
"The new digital ID will give every European the keys to their digital twin," Thierry Breton, and EU commissioner in charge of digital policy, said in a speech earlier this year.
Brussels is engaged in discussions with member states to provide guidelines on technical standards for the rollout of the digital wallet, which is expected to be fully operational in about a year.
So far, the program has seen limited interest, with only 19 member states moving to introduce the digital wallets to their citizens, and unfortunately not all of them are cross-compatible. But regulators hope that the rise in "digital literacy" driven by the pandemic will help make the "digital wallet" more popular. After all: who wants to keep carrying around all those annoying ID and credit cards?
What if, instead of carrying a wallet and a phone, we just carried a phone?
2 comments:
“This spending spree is not just happening in the United States. It is a worldwide phenomenon. That means the whole globe could be headed for a financial crisis of massive proportions. According to Revelation 13, the Antichrist and False Prophet will come to control the global economy. It sounds like the world will be in such great financial desperation that they will give the planetary power of the purse to their new leader. We seem to be headed for such a crisis. And in Venezuela, they learned that it can happen fast.
Is it time for despair? Not if you are a disciple of Jesus. He made certain promises to you. Those promises do not depend on the monetary policies of your country, or the value of the money in your savings account. In times like this, it’s important to lean into Him. Trust Him. Walk in His grace.
Don’t let the signs of the times make you afraid. Instead, allow them to give you confidence that the God who promised to take care of you is still in charge. Things are happening exactly as He said they would.”
—Hal Lindsey
AMEN brother - good points thanks
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