Bill Gates has voiced strong support for what his foundation, along with the EU, the UN, and the World Economic Forum (WEF) refer to as digital public infrastructure (DPI), and its key parts – digital IDs and payments.
And Gates wants to see them implemented globally.
In a blog post, the Microsoft founder once again attempts to establish his reputation as a visionary on these matters and praises a number of developing countries where the concept of the DPI is currently in various ways, one could say, “trialed for the rest of the world” – India, Kenya, Brazil, Togo.
One of the major criticisms leveled at digital IDs and payments – and the rush to get there, given that the DPI is supposed to see large-scale adoption by 2030 – is that they will lead to “enhanced,” digital government surveillance, and subsequent disenfranchisement of people.
However, Gates does not share these concerns and claims that what he calls “a properly designed” DPI will in fact “enhance” privacy, thanks to “safeguards” he mentions in passing.
