"Mark of the Beast: Digital Identity and the Cashless Cartel" By Martin Edwards from "The UK Column"!!

Mark of the Beast: Digital Identity and the Cashless Cartel

With the release of the iPhone X people have been asked to accept a new level of biometric intrusion so that their phone can identify them. But is this a simple security measure, or is there a global policy agenda at work?

Since the turn of the century the general public has been increasingly conditioned to interact digitally. From social media, to e-commerce and cashless payment systems such as Apple Pay and Android Pay, the "smartphone" is at the centre of the digital revolution.

The driver for this is not just corporate. There has been an accelerating transformation in the way that we interact with government agencies. As just one example, patients in England & Wales are now encouraged to pre-book doctor appointments. In order to register for Patient Access patients simply need to attend their doctor's surgery with their passport and driving licenceafter which they will be issued with a user ID and password.

Digital transformation of other government services is being driven by the Government Digital Service (GDS) which is part of the Cabinet Office. GOV.UK Verify is the new way to prove identity online. Government agencies now using GOV.UK Verify include DVLA, DWP, HMRC and DEFRA. Using GOV.UK Verify to access a government service requires "customers" to select from a list of companies certified to verify identities, including:

·         Barclays, ·         CitizenSafe, ·         Digidentity, ·         Experian, ·         Post Office, ·         Royal Mail, ·        SecureIdentity

According to the Government Transformation Strategy, 2017 - 2020, published by the Cabinet Office, "By harnessing digital to build and deliver services, the government can transform the relationship between citizen and state". 

Consideration is also being given to making the GOV.UK Verify system available to Local Authorities across the country. PublicTechnolgy.net reported on 29 August 2017 that "London mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed the capital’s first chief digital officer (CDO) ... Camden Councillor, Theo Blackwell ... will take the lead on work to digitally transform public services and turn London into the world’s smartest city”.

FULL ARTICLE AT: https://propheticwitnessnewport.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/mark-of-beast-digital-identity-and_13.html