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Is it Too Late to Escape From the Tyranny of Central Digital Control?

by Rob Tyson
12 July 2024 1:00 PM

Regular readers may remember how this website was suddenly defunded by payment processor PayPal in 2022. This was far from an isolated incident. From the “debanking” of the truckers protesting against the Canadian Government, to individuals like Nigel Farage and the Daily Sceptic’s own Toby Young, who also found his personal PayPal account shut down, to campaign groups like UsForThem and the Free Speech Union, to name only a few examples, financial control or exclusion for political reasons is an increasingly worrying issue to many. The Conservatives promised but (we recently discovered) neglected actually to change the law to prevent debanking for political reasons.

On the other hand, we may have had a lucky escape with the Data Bill also failing to make it through Parliament before the election. This would have enabled the state, without any suspicion required, to spy on the bank accounts of many millions of people via the banks. The bogeyman this time was benefit fraud, but you can expect it would soon creep into other areas.

In an increasingly cashless society and with the Government pushing ahead with a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), offering the state total surveillance possibilities combined with the potential for “programming” money to be used only in certain ways, the issue of financial surveillance and control is only going to become more urgent. And all this even without Tony Blair again popping up to float mandatory Digital ID cards as the cure-all, this time for immigration. You don’t have to think very hard to see the potential of a mandatory, centralised digital ID system run by the state to be the precursor to a Chinese-style “social credit” system. Indeed, we had a primitive version of such a system during Covid in the shape of vaccine passports, which controlled our access to parts of society based on our willingness – or not – to follow the state’s “recommendations”. You can throw in pay-per-mile road user charging (which can only mean information gathered about your every movement), a dollop of psychological “nudge” theory and technocratic management by algorithm while you’re at it. It doesn’t take a genius to see the dangers of this emerging panopticon combined with Blair’s “one Government ID to rule them all”.

These topics are going to be discussed at an upcoming event in Leeds organised by the Together Association, the campaign group initially formed in opposition to vaccine passports in 2021 which has since campaigned on numerous issues around free expression and against mobility restrictions. Speakers will be asking how we can ensure a future free from financial control. They include:

  • Dr. David McGrogan – well known to Daily Sceptic readers and Associate Professor of Law at Northumbria Law School, David writes on topics including human rights law, the cashless society, debanking and more.
  • Timandra Harkness, radio presenter, lapsed comedian, author of Big Data: Does Size Matter? and her latest book Technology Is Not The Problem.
  • Reverend Richard Fothergill – “debanked” last year by Yorkshire Building Society after 17 years, after replying to a request for feedback with a polite email objecting to ⁦the building society’s promotion of transgender ideology. He received a reply telling him that his views were “not tolerable” and that his account would be closed.
  • Austin Williams – Director, Future Cities Project, honorary research fellow, XJTLU, Suzhou, China and author of China’s Urban Revolution. Austin will be sharing insights about China’s social credit system on myth vs. reality.

Chaired by Together co-founder Alan Miller, questions are likely to include:

  • Is it any business of a bank what our views are? Conversely, if a business wishes only to support customers with certain views, should it be free to do so?
  • Can any financial institution truly be said to be “private” or “independent” from the state, given the powerful regulatory regimes that are part and parcel of how they operate?
  • Some would argue we can see ahead to our own future dystopia in the shape of China’s “social credit” system,” but how much does the reality of this match Western perception?
  • Is the optimistic view of Bitcoin or cryptocurrency enthusiasts that we can choose a future of money that is completely separated from the state and censor-proof a realistic alternative?
  • What can we do practically to ensure our future is free from financial control?

The event takes place at 7pm on Tuesday July 16th in Leeds and Daily Sceptic readers can get 25% off tickets by using coupon code SCEPTIC at checkout – the link to get tickets is here.

Rob Tyson is involved with the Together Association.

Tags: Cancel CultureCBDCCensorshipDebankingDigital currencyDigital IDSocial Credit SystemTogether DeclarationVaccine Passports

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14 Comments
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Ron Smith
Ron Smith
1 year ago

TRT World Nexus: ‘Billionaires are building bunkers here’s why’…..I watched this last night, and was surprised what a based interview it was considering they have a show called Just 2 Degrees that would give the BBC a run for their money regarding climate propaganda. They had three Bunker experts, one who had Cold War experience. The real threat they say is not so much the dirty bombs, nuclear etc, it is the people nearby who know about the building. Check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXADcFyBh4U

3
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
1 year ago
Reply to  Ron Smith

All the ‘big boys’ have or are building these hideaways / bunkers. Zuckerberg has a huge place still under construction in Hawaii I think. Or perhaps New Zealand.

Gates has built a hideaway.

They all know that at some point the ess haitch one tee is going to hit the fan.

4
0
Ron Smith
Ron Smith
1 year ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

Well that was the most interesting interview I’ve seen on TRT World, I only flicked over because of adverts. Check it out.

0
0
Ron Smith
Ron Smith
1 year ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

Watch the video…..”the fifteen minute city will kill you”.

0
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
1 year ago

https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/the-evil-aims-of-the-billionaires-funding-the-great-reset/

A complementary article from Niall McRae at TCW.

“To fight back we must understand what the likes of Soros and Fink want. They seek to destroy Christian-inspired individualism, replacing commonsense morality rooted in heritage and community with the contrived collectivism of the ‘greater good’. The state – global rather than national – will be parent, provider and moral arbiter. Only faith can overcome this evil oligarchy.”

Last edited 1 year ago by huxleypiggles
5
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Ron Smith
Ron Smith
1 year ago
Reply to  huxleypiggles

He does good articles.

1
0
JXB
JXB
1 year ago

The issue here is you are treating a symptom, not the disease. Government can just as easily control supply of cash – in fact it already does.

The disease is Government in the hands of an out of control “right to rule” elite with global interconnexions, which has grown in scope and scale beyond what is necessary for a well ordered society and economy, or is desirable.

The State has far more control over the citizenry via the welfare system and regulatory framework than digital currency.

As long as citizens make themselves dependent on the State for healthcare, education, welfare, protection and safety all in exchange for liberty and freedom, then those who govern will stay uncontrollable, and become ever more intrusive with schemes like central digital currency.

So either do something about State dependency – give it up! – or stop complaining.

6
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jsampson45
jsampson45
1 year ago
Reply to  JXB

Citizens may be unavoidably dependent on the State.

0
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
1 year ago

https://off-guardian.org/2024/07/11/the-rise-of-the-false-false-flag/

Another interesting and thought provoking article from the always worth reading Kit Knightly over at Off-G.

False flags and the rise of False False Flags.

4
0
Jabby Mcstiff
Jabby Mcstiff
1 year ago

Not at all. Systems can collapse from corruption but they can also collapse with complexity. If you look at it from a mathematical point of view then the introduction of a new node necessitates connection to all other nodes. Even modest attempts at this are failing and this is resulting in disinvestment. Technologies designed to facilatate working from home are too unstable and many are switching back to less centralised and distant models. I would say you are about to see major trends in the opposite direction, simply as a result of the growing distrust in western countries.

2
0
Jabby Mcstiff
Jabby Mcstiff
1 year ago

It isn’t difficult to pay for things with cash. If you are too scared to do so then you need to look in the mirror. It is a fine thing to have a wad in your pocket and to splash it out. Just like its fine to wear aftershave and have a hairy chest. Keep it real and solid.

4
0
Judy Watson
Judy Watson
1 year ago

I pay cash for everything except my ferry ticket from Southampton to the Isle of Wight. I was told that as there wasn’t any cctv and the staff behind the counter weren’t protected in any way it was card only.

Someone has yet to explain to me what happens when the internet goes, there is a power outage and/or you get locked out of your bank account.

Being locked out of your bank account has happened to 3 friends in the UK, one each in Belgium, Sweden and the USA. It is not fun trying to sort it out. In three instances people have had to return to their own country to sort out the problem.

4
0
Richard Austin
Richard Austin
1 year ago
Reply to  Judy Watson

Tills are almost universally connected to mains electricity and the internet. It has been many years since I last saw a manual cash till. Most won’t open without electricity if not all, Markets will take your cash and maybe corner shops but the big boys won’t and, besides, almost all shops would have to close because of no lighting.

2
0
Judy Watson
Judy Watson
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard Austin

Yes I get what you are saying but what about power outages? No power, no tills, no internet.

I live in Thailand and outages can last hours.

1
0

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