This isn't good, but it's not uncommon. My concern is if this behavior has led the European Union into the digital ID fiasco. All of this data monitoring can be used to manipulate politicians into supporting.
mrtksn•46m ago
What is the EU digital ID fiasco?
Simulacra•42m ago
Apologies, Britain is forcing digital ID for all citizens for Internet access. This is also been discussed at the European Parliament level, and there's a significant amount of public black lash. That's the fiasco, I should've been more specific.
norman784•36m ago
AFAIK the digital ID will also be required when getting a new job.
hkt•30m ago
In the UK's case, ID has been required to get a new job or rent a house for a decade.
whywhywhywhy•22m ago
ok so why the need for the digital one if we already have one
ajsnigrutin•17m ago
Because requiring an ID to register for eg. a facebook account is hard... how do you input your physical card into a computer? There's potential for abuse when taking a photo of it, and as soon as one photo of an ID appears online, everyone can use that.
By having people get digital IDs, you can require them to use it when registering for social network accounts, etc., because it's already in their phones and requires just one tap to 'sign' the account with your real identity. Want to complain about a local politician on r/uk on reddit? You'll need a valid UK account to even post there, and it'll be tied to your real name. Want to join a discord? You need UK ID and your real identity tied to it. Organizing a protest? Well, your real name is there, the police will be visiting soon.
pjc50•3m ago
Very good question, isn't it. The point of the policy is to make headlines. Implementation is a messy detail for the future.
wizzwizz4•34m ago
You're still conflating a few things. The UK government wants to require digital ID for employment, with housing etc to follow. People on HN suspect the plan is to combine that with the Online Safety Act internet identification requirements, but no such plans have been announced as far as I'm aware.
masfuerte•21m ago
When Starmer announced digital ID he also talked about the regulation of social media. Sure, nobody has confirmed the plan, but the two things are clearly connected in the prime minister's thinking.
On the other hand, according to The Times yesterday the cabinet isn't happy with digital ID. It's as obvious to them as it is to everyone else that digital ID won't make a jot of difference to illegal working. And may well lose them votes.
pjc50•6m ago
In case you missed it, the UK is no longer part of the EU. It is doing this under its own steam, or perhaps that of lobbyists.
European politicians are great at pretending to do stuff, not newsworthy.
markus_zhang•32m ago
“One of your officials pays farmers to produce surplus food, while on the same floor, the next office is paying them to destroy the surpluses.”
—- the late venerable Prime Minister Jim Hacker
ajsnigrutin•22m ago
This is at least a bit understandable... if something bad happens, a (trade, or a 'classic') war, some large catastrophe somewhere, you want local farmers with all the equipment, knowledge, fields and warehouses ready to take over. Yeah, sure, today maybe you have a surplus of potatos, more than your people want to eat, and still more expensive from imported ones from some other country, but subsidizing the farmers means that in such extreme cases, you at least have the infrastructure to grow potatos to feed the people at home.
„Oh my god I hate the EU, it makes me so freaking angry.”
- Random HN user who can’t name more than 10 member states.
encom•15m ago
>EU subsidies are ending up in the pockets of spyware companies.
The entire EU apparatus needs a DOGE-like treatment so bad.
Edit: I said like. US DOGE was... a mixed bag.
dghlsakjg•6m ago
The EU needs a theatrical billionaire to go around pulling plugs without knowing who dies so they can save a relative pittance?
pjc50•4m ago
There's a lot wrong with the EU but at least that particular scenario is, fortunately, impossible. Still somewhat possible at the national level where the real power lies, such as Orban.
Simulacra•49m ago
mrtksn•46m ago
Simulacra•42m ago
norman784•36m ago
hkt•30m ago
whywhywhywhy•22m ago
ajsnigrutin•17m ago
By having people get digital IDs, you can require them to use it when registering for social network accounts, etc., because it's already in their phones and requires just one tap to 'sign' the account with your real identity. Want to complain about a local politician on r/uk on reddit? You'll need a valid UK account to even post there, and it'll be tied to your real name. Want to join a discord? You need UK ID and your real identity tied to it. Organizing a protest? Well, your real name is there, the police will be visiting soon.
pjc50•3m ago
wizzwizz4•34m ago
masfuerte•21m ago
On the other hand, according to The Times yesterday the cabinet isn't happy with digital ID. It's as obvious to them as it is to everyone else that digital ID won't make a jot of difference to illegal working. And may well lose them votes.
pjc50•6m ago
randunel•6m ago