Computer Says Maybe The Vaporstate: A New Mini-Series
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Jan 9, 2026 Dive into the world of digital public infrastructure, where unique IDs and payment systems are becoming the norm. Experts discuss the risks of centralizing national IDs and payments under a single government platform. There's a critical look at the influence of big tech companies like Oracle and Google on these systems. The concept of Digital Public Infrastructure is examined, revealing its complexity and resistance to a clear definition. Explore how these changes shape everyday life and what they mean for the future.
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Digital Projects Reshape Public Life
- Governments worldwide are launching large-scale digital projects like IDs, payments, and data exchanges that reshape public life.
- These systems function as infrastructure with broad social and political consequences beyond mere technology.
Unique IDs Become Foundational
- Digital public infrastructure often demands unique IDs for people, land, and students as a foundational approach.
- That approach resembles surveillance because it standardizes identification across many domains.
Identity Theft’s Personal Toll
- A person described losing control after identity misuse opened bank and phone accounts in her name.
- She said transferred money vanished and she began to doubt her own reality and belonging.