Amazon’s Palm-Scan Payment Service Raises Concerns over ‘Digital Enslavement’, Experts Caution

Amazon’s new palm-scan payment service has raised concerns among experts about privacy, social surveillance, and control. The e-commerce giant recently launched an app that allows users to sign up for its biometric payment service by taking a photo of their hand and uploading it to Amazon’s servers. While Amazon touts the convenience and faster in-store experience for customers and retailers, privacy experts have criticized the move.

Privacy advocates are alarmed by the ease with which Amazon can collect and exploit personal data. They worry that this could contribute to a system of social surveillance and control. James Lindsay, founder of New Discourses and author of “Race Marxism” and “Social (In)justice,” sees this as evidence of a broader push towards tech-enabled “digital enslavement.” He compares it to China’s social credit system, which rewards and punishes citizens based on their behavior. Lindsay argues that technocrats view consumers as domesticated animals to be exploited for profit.

Lindsay suggests that a system of “digital cattle” would involve universal basic income (UBI), a social credit system tied to financial rewards and punishments, and an education system that restricts individual freedom. The key to making this system work is data, according to Lindsay. The oligarchs would use data to control and manipulate individuals, rewarding them with meaningless perks while punishing them with real consequences.

While Amazon maintains that it prioritizes customer privacy and data security, critics remain skeptical. They argue that fears of an Orwellian system of “digital enslavement” may not be overblown, given the potential risks. However, some critics believe that public pushback against progressive phenomena like Critical Race Theory and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies may prevent the adoption of such a system.

Michael Rectenwald, a former professor at New York University, warns that the promise of convenience is often used as a lure to draw people into arrangements that do not serve their fundamental interests. He sees Amazon’s palm-scanning app as a step towards digital identity, which is a prerequisite for effective central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Rectenwald argues that CBDCs allow complete transaction transparency and could lead to Orwellian possibilities and the closing of the totalitarian circle.

In conclusion, Amazon’s palm-scan payment service has sparked concerns about privacy, social surveillance, and control. Experts warn that this technology could contribute to a system of “digital enslavement” and the erosion of personal freedom. While some critics believe that public pushback may prevent the adoption of such a system, others emphasize the risks associated with the convenience offered by big tech companies. The debate surrounding privacy and digital identity continues to evolve as technology advances.