Of course, I could just be a paranoid online conspiracy idiot but the timing is curious - dumping all this stuff right before summer, flying the social media kids ban flag while hinting an online certification system will be required to implement it while simultaneously rejigging myGov into myID .

Then there's the senate committee smoking gun.

Nah, I think there's a strong possibility some idiots have a strategy that doesn't involve being upfront. We studied the Australia Card, and the Data Retention sell was a complete fuck up. They're probably terrified of both instances, as would be the minister.

Happy to be wrong but all this stinks of subterfuge and an attempt to get the public (and old media) to sleepwalk into a surveillance trap.

#auspol #privacy #myid

What's a reasonable argument *for* a Federal Government digital ID? Like what actual use is it (apart from the surveillance aspect). What will it bring to the table that isn't already covered?

Can't think of one and the government hasn't made any argument in the media release - just 'Presto, here it is.'

Trying to anticipate what a minister will blather on about if challenged. 'We are centralising government records?' That's already been done, albeit badly.

Who or what is going to ask you to present it? Porn sites? Social media? Is that the only route this goes down? They're just going to trot out the same old criminals, paedophiles and terrorist lines aren't they. Somehow a Federal Government ID stops all that... somehow...

It's fucking perplexing.

#auspol #privacy #myid

Welp, all signs point to a looming privacy battle with the Australian Government who seem set on sneaking in a comprehensive surveillance system data matching tax, health and other government records to social media accounts. People's Republic of China would approve.

These are fun. We'll need all the arts, legal, media, politics and tech skills we can muster. Fortunately, appears a proliferation of them abound in these here parts.

Not an easy battle to win against entrenched political parties and their old media propaganda wings but to misquote the Taliban, 'We thank god our enemies are idiots.'

https://www.ato.gov.au/media-centre/mygovid-is-now-called-myid

https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2024/not-just-kids--everyone-to-be-age-verified-for-social-.html

#auspol #privacy #myid