What they did to Nigel Farage can be done to you. We need a Digital Bill of Rights before it's too late - Alan Miller

The fact that Boris I’d eat any ID Card Johnson so fond of citing Cicero could stoop to this is consistent with the reality of lockdowns and impositions, as well as the cheerleading of longer, harder restrictions when Keir Starmer was in ‘opposition’.

At Together, we handed in petitions with over 370,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street, stating opposition to Compulsory ‘Show me your Papers’ Society with Digital ID, as well as no to mandatory Jabs for health workers and any others.

Tony Blair, who has had enormous influence with his Institute globally and The World Economic Forum, among others, tried enormously hard to force Digital ID using Covid as a reason.

While the great British Public has always been against Compulsory ID during his actual yet Blair always rejected arguments of privacy and autonomy of citizens.

We see the push by technocrats globally to impose Digital ID and controls. From Surveillance and Facial Recognition, to low traffic neighbourhoods, ’15 Minute Cities’ riddled with CCTV and monitoring.

Now we hear plans for ‘Pay Per Mile’ too. Many were understandably aghast upon hearing that NatWest Bank had debanked Nigel Farage. It was clear that groups such as The Free Speech Union, UsForThem and many others were specifically targeted and debanked because of their political views.

While we at Together pushed hard to help enshrine a law against this, it ultimately did not go through due to the snap election.

However, we all campaigned to make sure the Financial Control Authority was fully clear on this. We also pushed hard to get the Bank of England to understand the vital importance of cash. To maintain cash in Britain, as well as in local banks and ATM cashpoints.

Central Bank Digital Currency is an area that many have enormous concerns about. A ‘programmable’ Digital Currency that a national government has control over raises huge issues about control and coercion.

Currently, the EU is about to implement CBDC “Digital Euro’ along with 27 other nations. This, alongside the Digital Services Act, which threatens Free Speech on Big Tech Social Media platforms, is of major concern.

Our lives have been transformed in many ways throughout history by technology, and the innovations and creative dynamism that can bring are to be applauded. But we need to make sure there are safeguards to our hard-won right to privacy and autonomy. Our grandparents fought Nazis to uphold and defend democracy and freedom. Yet now we are witnessing an attempt to do what the Bank of International Settlements CEO said was to ‘track every single transaction’, along with the major concerns raised around two-tier policing and justice around protest and speech.

That is why The Together Declaration has launched a Digital Bill of Rights. The idea is that this document can become a guide for what we want to see. Instead of only reacting, we want to actively shape the future. Long term, we should aspire to get these principles into law and – more importantly – make them part of how society works.

We’re not against technology. It’s made our lives better, and we want it to empower us. But we don’t want it used to control or exploit us.

We would love you to send it to your MP and get involved.Attached, Alan has provided the proposed Digital Bill of Rights:

Article 1: Your Right to Choose Digital or Offline Options

1. No Forced Digital Use: Using digital systems should be up to you, not something you’re forced into.
2. The Right to Use Cash: You must be able to make purchases with physical cash if you choose.
3. Access to Non-Digital Services: Essential services – like seeing a doctor, enrolling kids in school, or paying bills – must always be available in non-digital formats.

Article 2: Your Right to Free Expression and Information

1. Freedom to Speak and Share: You have the right to express yourself and access information online without unfair interference.
2. No Unjust Censorship: Free speech is protected unless intended to directly incite violence.
3. Fair Content Moderation: Platforms must have clear, consistent, and transparent content policies.

Article 3: Your Right to Privacy & Data Protection

1. Privacy and Anonymity are Your Rights: You have the right to keep your digital activity and communication private, use strong encryption, and stay anonymous online.
2. Control Over Your Data: Your personal data is yours. You decide who can collect it, how it’s used, and when it should be deleted.
3. No Tracking Without Consent: Governments and companies can’t track, store or use your data without clear permission.

Article 4: Your Right to Financial Freedom & Privacy

1. Choice of Money: You cannot be forced to use digital currencies (like Central Bank Digital Currencies). You have the right to use cash and crypto, free from unfair regulation or discrimination, and to control your money and financial privacy.
2. No Financial Discrimination: Access to banking services cannot be denied based on personal beliefs. A functional public banking option must be available to all.
3. Freedom from Social Scoring: People should not be tracked, rated, or punished by governments or companies for their personal views, beliefs, or everyday actions – especially by hidden or automated systems.

Article 5: Your Right to Protection from Surveillance

1. Digital ID Must Be Optional: You cannot be required to use a digital ID to access basic services.
2. No Mass Surveillance: Facial recognition and other tracking technologies must not be used to monitor the public.
3. No Permanent ID Systems: Your identity should only be checked when absolutely necessary – and not permanently stored or tracked.

Article 6: Your Right to Transparency & Digital Justice

1. Explainable Automated Decisions: You have the right to understand and challenge decisions made about you by algorithms, for example, for hiring, policing, or credit.
2. Easy Ways to Challenge Digital Wrongs: If your digital rights are violated, you must have access to fair, timely remedies.
3. Transparency from Platforms: Government and companies must be open about how they collect and use your data.

Article 7: Your Right to a Free & Open Internet

1. Net Neutrality Must Be Protected: Internet access must remain open and equal, without content being blocked or slowed down unfairly.
2. Free Access to Public Knowledge: Publicly funded research and information should be freely available to everyone.