A survey from the Bank for International Settlements showed that 86% of central banks are exploring the use of digital currencies. This includes the US Federal Reserve Bank (FED). In fact, the FED chairman told the House Financial Services Committee in March of 2023 that they are already testing a digital dollar.
To see what privacy concerns this raises, we'll focus on a bank already using a digital currency — the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC).
China's digital Yuan is 100% trackable. The Chinese government will know who's paying when they're paying, how much their paying, and where they're paying. They'll also be able to analyze patterns of payments. The government aims to replace all cash and currency with the digital Yuan.
Many Chinese citizens already use digital currencies for the majority of transactions. However, they are done through third-party apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay. The government can already access data on transactions through those apps. With the digital Yuan, there won't be a middleman, and all transaction data will reside with the government.
At least in China, there are some advantages to using the digital Yuan. Merchants won't have to pay a fee, and transactions can occur without an Internet connection. It will be more efficient at fighting fraud and money laundering. A central bank currency can also help track taxes and prevent tax evasion.
As the Chinese government moves towards a cashless society, it can force citizens to use the digital Yuan and companies. As companies would only be able to accept digital Yuan, foreign companies would then also have to start using the digital Yuan, adding the ability to further track transactions by the government.
Central banks control the supply of money. But with a digital currency, they'd be able to put an expiration date on currency, ensuring that it can't be held for long periods of time or indefinitely. This basically means at some point, the currency can become invalid, and users will have no control over when that date may occur.
As well, a central bank would be able to shut off someone's access to the currency. Recall how the Canadian government froze access to hundreds of accounts in 2022 for those who blockaded Ottawa's streets with heavy trucks.
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