Digital IDs as Information Control

The essay argues that government digital ID schemes aren’t only about stopping illegal work or improving services; they are tools to regain control over information flows in a world where the internet undermines secrecy. By pairing identity infrastructure with speech regulation, states can reassert authority over who can speak, transact, and be heard. — It reframes digital ID debates from convenience and fraud prevention to information governance and civil liberties, shaping how citizens and legislators judge these systems.