by Ken Macon, Reclaim The Net:

Pushing digital ID on a wide scale.

The EU Parliament’s Industry Committee last week endorsed the new EU Digital Identity Regulation (eIDAS 2). Approved despite opposition from the Pirate group, the new statute will introduce a digital identity app to facilitate EU citizens’ access to diverse digital services, both private and public, and co-opt the likes of Big Tech giants such as Google or Facebook, and to support online transactions.

While lawmakers, IT security specialists, and scientists have recently criticized the EU’s push against disinformation and have voiced their concerns about potential mass surveillance, the agreement was approved nonetheless. “This regulation is a blank cheque for surveillance of citizens online, endangering our privacy and security online,” states Patrick Breyer, a Pirate Party legislator.