New Digital ID System To Be Pushed on Austrians This December

If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A major threat to privacy is lurking behind the upcoming digital revolution in Austria, which seeks to bring in a new national digital ID system, called ID Austria. As the Austrian government prepares for a complete digital overhaul from December 5, the move has sparked concerns over potential overreach and privacy infringements in the disguise of secure and seamless access to various government services. The new system will supersede the Handy-Signatur, the digital ID platform currently in use by Austrians, effectively pushing about 2.8 million people to adjust to ID Austria. At present, the new digital ID system is used by 1.5 million Austrians, according to The Local. This digital leviathan forces everyone to comply; citizens will otherwise be barred from a wide range of essential government services. But does the switch truly guarantee more security and data protection, as the government claims? Those registered under the now-phasing-out Handy-Signatur will not be able to access the full range of services offered by the new digital ID platform, indicating a potential disservice to a significant number of the population. Echoing the Orwellian undertone, registering for ID Austria for those currently without Handy-Signatur necessitates a physical visit to a registration office, presenting a passport, residence permit, or a driver’s license – any form of identification that’s already been serving the purpose. Proponents argue that the move will facilitate identity verification and pave the way for a…New Digital ID System To Be Pushed on Austrians This December