CBDC and Social Credit (Patreon)

China's Social Credit System integrates various aspects of citizens' lives into a single score, which can affect access to services and personal freedoms. It uses facial recognition for payments, linking identity to transactions. eg make sure you are vaccinated, do not speed, do not say anything bad on social media etc.

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are government-controlled digital versions of national currencies that raise concerns about potential transaction monitoring, spending limits, account freezing, loss of financial privacy, discrimination based on policy compliance, and economic manipulation. They will even stop you getting on a bus, train or plane!

It is pretty clear the EU and ECB want to move in this same direction. These control systems look likely to be implemented in Europe, potentially conflicting with European privacy values.

I hope I am wrong.