Digital driver licences
Convenience or surveillance creep?
The Government has just given the green light for driver licences and warrants of fitness to be stored on your phone. I predicted this last month and wrote about it - you can read it below.
On the surface, this sounds like modern convenience. No more fumbling through your wallet or worrying about losing a card. When you look deeper, it’s not exactly the win that it’s being sold as.
Digital ID is coming to New Zealand
China has just taken a major step toward total digital control, rolling out a centralised internet ID system that links every user’s online presence to their real identity. It’s being sold as “voluntary” for now, but the writing is on the wall - facial scans, real names, and state-issued digital certificates will become the standard for accessing anythi…
Every time you use a digital driver licence, a QR code or barcode will most likely be scanned. That scan isn’t just proving your identity – it creates data. Data that shows where you were, what time you were there, and who you interacted with. Over time, this builds into a surveillance trail that gives the Government (and potentially other agencies) the ability to track your movements with disturbing accuracy. A driver licence is the primary ID that most of us use. Now, it risks becoming a tool for constant monitoring.
The funny part is, plenty of people already have a workaround. Many police officers already accept a clear photo of your licence on your phone, and from there they can verify details on their own systems. So why the push for a digital licence? Simple: more control.
This is what Governments always do. They dangle “convenience” in front of us to get buy-in. Remember how 5G was sold? We were told it would be lightning fast and revolutionary. I’ve got multiple 5G devices and honestly, it doesn’t feel much different. The sales pitch was better than the reality.
For me, I’ll stick to what works. My physical driver licence sits in my wallet alongside my cash, and that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. At least I know it isn’t logging my every move. I won’t be signing up for a digital driver licence until the day they make it compulsory - and that day will be one more step into a surveillance society.
Reality is that we probably wouldn't be concerned if we trusted our Govt, if they used technology like that to only catch criminals who are a threat to our society we would probably be happy about it. Unfortunately they appear to be supporting criminals and not victims so why should we trust them???
It’s a clear and present - No! From me
Slippery slope getting slipperier