Critics of the ongoing plans to expand Australia’s digital identity system are warning it could eventually be used to restrict the liberties of its citizens—in a way akin to that already employed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Currently, using a digital ID—known as myGovID—in Australia is optional and has been rolled out for federal services such as for taxes, welfare, health, education, and social services. However, for people looking to start a new business, a digital ID is compulsory.
Signing up involves providing several identification documents, such as a passport, driver’s licence, etc.
But Prof. John Hartnett—a retired physics research scientist who has worked on cryocooled sapphire oscillators (or “sapphire clocks”) used by the European Space Agency and the Australian military—is not convinced the system will be immune to misuse….