BY SIMONE J. SMITH
The COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst for rapid technological adoption. Suddenly, terms like “Zoom” and “remote work” became commonplace. It seems that as we navigate this new digital age, governments worldwide are increasingly turning to technology to address pressing global issues, including the lack of official identification for billions of people. While digital IDs promise to revolutionize how we interact with institutions and services, they also raise serious concerns about privacy, security, and potential abuses of power.
On October 19th, 2023, BGRS informed the Government of Canada of a breach involving Government of Canada information held by BGRS and SIRVA Canada systems. Hackers had exposed the personal information of an untold number of Canadian government employees, possibly dating back to 1999.
In January 2024, Global Affairs Canada said an “unplanned IT outage” had affected remote access to its network. The department said the partial outage was activated intentionally on January 24th, 2024, to “Address the discovery of malicious cyber activity.”
Early results indicated there had been a data breach and that there had been unauthorized access to personal information of users including employees. It was not clear whether secret information was lost in the breach, which lasted longer than a month. It’s also not clear who was behind the breach.
In July, we experienced an incident, which affected 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices, leading to widespread disruptions of: airlines, banks, broadcasters, healthcare providers, retail payment terminals, and cash machines globally. The cost of the outage was estimated to top $1 billion.
The disruption was caused by a flawed update to a cloud-based security software of CrowdStrike, one of the global top cybersecurity companies. The update to the Falcon software triggered a malfunction that disabled parts of the computer systems and software like Microsoft Windows. Three days after the incident, CrowdStrike reported that a significant number of the devices were back online and operational.
Why am I sharing all of this? Well; Federal regulators have announced plans for digital credentials for Canadians without parliamentary approval, despite widespread skepticism and past rejections from MPs over concerns about cost, security, potential abuse, and state-sanctioned surveillance.
They say it’s for “convenience,” but could it really be about control?
Several Members of Parliament have already rejected Digital ID initiatives, but unelected bureaucrats are pushing forward anyway. While the government presents digital ID as a safeguard against identity theft, the risk of misuse and overreach is deeply concerning. With no established checks and balances, Canadians must critically assess whether this system is a convenience, or a gateway to unwarranted (and unwanted) surveillance.
A recent notice from Shared Services Canada describing efforts to create a digital ID system. Since many Canadians are skeptical of public institutions, the widespread acceptance of such a system is unlikely.
The proposal equates digital credentials with mandatory IDs like Social Insurance numbers, suggesting a streamlining of interactions with public services. However, parliamentary committees have dismissed such proposals for years, citing the risks of abuse and financial implications.
Previous warnings about national IDs highlight chilling possibilities, such as police conducting identity checks—a troubling scenario that threatens personal freedoms and evokes a “papers please” mentality reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.
By 2026, Trudeau wants to launch a border app that tracks every Canadian crossing into the U.S., collecting photos, travel declarations, and even biometric data. Canadians will provide their biographic, biometric declaration and other border-related information prior to arriving at the port of entry, and officers will be given smartphones to access the digital referrals and process them, which the government says is expected to save time.
According to a federal report obtained November 14th, 2024, (by Blacklock’s Reporter), by 2026 Canadians driving to the United States will be asked to pre-submit photos and license plate numbers to the Canada Border Services Agency through a mobile application as part of its “traveler modernization” plan.
“Travelers will use a redesigned advance declaration mobile application to submit their digital photo, advance declaration and license plate information in advance of arrival,” wrote the Agency. Let’s be real here; we’ve already seen how Digital IDs can and will go wrong.
The report noted that the new plan is separate from the notorious ArriveCAN app which monitored and collected information from Canadians leaving, or entering the country during the COVID “pandemic,” however there are some notable similarities. If you don’t remember, I want to remind everyone that it forced unnecessary quarantines, caused chaos at the border, and wasted $54 million on poorly managed contracts. To make matters even worse, the Canada Border Services Agency “lost” 1,700 emails about ArriveCAN’s development.
Imagine being forced to use an unreliable app every time you travel.
What if it fails?
What if a cyberattack shuts down the system?
If our border agency can lose critical records, what’s stopping them from “losing” your travel access? These aren’t just possibilities—they’re real risks. We cannot allow a fragile digital system to control when and how you can travel.
Digital IDs aren’t what Canadians want, but it is undoubtedly what Shared Services Canada wants for you, me, and the rest of the country, despite how unpopular Digital IDs are.
They should ask their friends at the Bank of Canada about their recent preliminary research into making a digital Canadian dollar. In a recent survey the Bank ran, 80% of respondents said “NO!” to similar digital systems.
As we move towards a future where digital IDs are increasingly prevalent, it is imperative to engage in open and honest dialogue about the potential benefits and risks. By working together, we can harness the power of technology to create a more equitable and secure digital society.
REFERENCES:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/21/business/crowdstrike-outage-cost/index.html
https://www.blacklocks.ca/new-arrivecan-plan-by-2026/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/global-affairs-security-breach-1.7099290
https://www.canada.ca/en/shared-services/programs/delivering-digital-together.html
https://www.rebelnews.com/arrivecan_scandal_1_700_more_emails_conveniently_wiped_by_cbsa
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