Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D 

 Like all things, the high-technology revolution we are experiencing has both positive and negative possible outcomes. Those who advocate the new high-tech systems only tell us the positive side since they are the ones most likely to benefit financially. I strongly recommend that you read or re-read George Orwell’s novel, 1984. In that story, the author shows some of the ways that modern technological advances can negatively impact our most basic freedoms.

The January 6^th investigation showcased how easy it is for the federal government to monitor our whereabouts using our cell phone locations. Our movements can be traced not only in the present, but also in the past. Many people were subjected to criminal charges because their cell phone location data indicated they were on the Capitol grounds on January 6^th. In his prophetic book, Orwell relates how two of the characters had to arrange meeting in a forest in order to avoid being filmed and monitored together in public. The extensive use of digital surveillance cameras throughout our country has established exactly that scenario in today’s society. While one could argue that surveillance cameras are useful to identify law breakers, which is true, the cameras provide the capability for the government to use this information for nefarious purposes if it so chooses. Ask the innocent people caught up in the January 6^th dragnet.

A couple of more mundane examples are the attempted use of GPS tracking data on automobiles by a city in the United Kingdom to put limits on how many miles a resident could drive from that city. How about the proposal by some of the environmental extremists to limit how many miles a person is allowed to drive per year to reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions? Farfetched? Look at the mandatory system currently in place that slows down a diesel-powered truck to 5 MPH if there is a defect in the emissions control system that has not been corrected within a certain predetermined mileage limit? The point is that high tech is providing mechanisms for the government to control our lives in ways that were never anticipated years ago.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another rapidly advancing technology that has the potential for very positive changes that may enhance human existence, but at the same time could be used to interfere with our freedoms in significant ways.

Now we come to the issue of digital currency, which is in the process of being implemented in several other countries. The Biden administration sanctioned the development of a proposal or plan for digital currency here in the United States. While not yet implemented, we could see it in the near future. Digital currency is a government-controlled system that does away with cash transactions and replaces them with a system of electronic data for all monetary transactions. Your wealth exists only as an electronic record somewhere in the digital world. The software even has what is called a digital wallet which is where your assets are stored for use in purchasing and selling. Why would anyone want this phantom money system? The main advantage according to advocates is that the government would have increased ability to manage the economy by monitoring and controlling the use of money. Of course, this would also allow the government to monitor and record all your purchases and expenditures.

Unlike credit cards and bank accounts today that use electronic accounting for deposits and withdrawals, the digital currency system bypasses the local banks and is managed directly by the federal government. Now, what could possibly go wrong with that? Well, actually several things. We continually hear about foreign entities successfully hacking into supposedly secure private business and government computer systems. What if these hackers destroyed the entire digital system? How about an attack on our electrical system? The old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” applies here. Another issue is that the government could monitor and actually control how you spend your money. They could easily see what you are spending your money on and redirect it to items they deem more appropriate. For example–buying too many juicy steaks instead of beans. Of course, no government would ever do such a thing; or would a government that mandates unproven vaccines do so?

The bottom line is that a digital currency system, while it may have some advantages, would give the government almost unlimited capability to monitor and control our economic freedom to spend our own money as we see fit. By the way, which country is strongly moving towards a complete digital currency system? You guessed it; communist China. We must monitor where our legislators are on this issue if we are to preserve our freedom.