The World Bank Pushes Forward on Global Digital Transformation

Updated

By Tracy Beanz & Michelle Edwards

The World Bank (WB) plays a crucial role in facilitating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put forth by the United Nations and supported by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and, of course, Bill Gates and other self-serving non-government organization (NGOs). The group’s goals have not faded, and although they now conceal their primary objective, many recognize this shady group as the “you will own nothing and be happy” tyrants. Integral to achieving the SDGs is a World Bank initiative called Identification for Development (ID4D), which focuses on helping nations develop and implement what they describe as robust, inclusive, and responsible digital identification systems. If you assume the talk of Digital IDs has quieted down because the propaganda around COVID-19 has largely been debunked, make no mistake, it hasn’t.

Last month, as Americans remained captured by the election, catastrophic hurricanes, and numerous other distractions, the WB issued a policy note called “Electronic Signatures, Enabling Trusted Digital Transformation.” The 47-page document—part of the digital ID ruse hyped during the COVID-19 pandemic and unveiled in late 2018—emphasizes that ID4D is a critical component of the WB’s broader strategy to transform the world into a digital one, where digital identity systems and electronic signatures replace traditional handwritten ones. This shift comes with potential risks that cannot afford to be ignored.

The document itself includes a disclaimer stating that it is simply a reference tool intended to provide guidance for governments, development partners, academics, and others when evaluating, designing, implementing, or managing national electronic signature ecosystems. Yet, the ID4D Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF)—which provides a platform for partners to “cohesively advance progress across ID4D’s three pillars—has billions of dollars to shape the widespread approach towards total global digital transformation. Thus, it is safe to assume the world is on a fast track toward the intended surveillance state objective swiftly ushered in because of COVID-19.

Besides the “catalytic contributions” from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which enabled the MDTF to be established in the first place, the UK Government, the French Government, The Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD), and the Omidyar Network are also partners with the WB to tackle the “fundamental challenge” of harnessing global and cross-sectional knowledge, World Bank financing instruments, and partnerships to help countries realize what they call the transformational potential of identification (ID) systems, including civil registration (CR). In other words, with the well-funded prototype of its official digital ID system, the WB is pouncing on countries with limited access to formal identification and setting these governments up to record vital events in its population, such as births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. These systems are the foundation for many legal identity systems in society, including those used for issuing digital IDs. And, by all means, constant surveillance.

The document describes further how essential CR systems are to creating “trusted and inclusive” digital ID systems. Of course, they’re crucial—they provide the legal records that link an individual to their identity. These personal records can then be merged into digital systems and become official digital IDs. To function effectively, WB states that digital identification systems often rely on the integrity and completeness of a country’s civil registration records. This guarantees that the digital IDs issued are backed by verified legal identities, supporting secure electronic signatures and digital transactions. So, of course, the WB strives to help naive nations, especially those they can easily manipulate, take a quick leap onboard.

Thus, with Bill Gates meddling in yet another step towards totalitarianism, the WB is heavily involved in footing the bill to strengthen CR systems so governments, especially those in “remote or marginalized communities,” have access to official identification or digital ID through initiatives like ID4D. The document notes the WB will provide financial support to develop infrastructure for digital IDs, capacity building to design and manage digital IDs along with legal, regulatory, and technical assistance, as well as support the integration of digital IDs with civil registration systems. This is already underway in Nigeria, Bangladesh, and several nations across Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Kenya. And let’s not forget India. Its Aadhaar program is one of the largest digital ID systems in the world.

Again, aiding and funding countries in laying the appropriate groundwork is essential for enabling their participation in the digital economy the deep state is creating, which is built upon the switch to electronic signatures. The WB’s policy note says that its financing instruments will be critical in helping countries implement the nefarious plan. With these financing instruments, along with technical assistance, the WB aims to help countries build digital infrastructure, implement “trusted” legal frameworks, and promote sustainable models for the use of electronic signatures. Though not explicitly mentioned in the paper (it is, after all, titled “Electronic Signatures”), there is no doubt that a future next step in the plan is a global digital currency.

For the sake of clarity, an electronic signature is the data or process used to capture the intent of the signer and authenticate the transaction. While facial recognition is not considered an electronic signature, it can indeed be a part of the authentification process used to validate the identity of someone signing electronically. Therefore, the WBs scheme also discusses biometric authentification, a method of determining a person’s identity using facial recognition, fingerprints, iris scans, and biological or behavioral characteristics. Specifically, the WB wants to use biometric authentication as a part of electronic signature solutions to confirm the identity of a person before a signature is applied to a document or transaction. What could possibly go wrong?

The WB estimates that it will take $9 billion to achieve its goal of identification for all. With massive potential for authoritarian and human rights violations, it is not clear exactly how much of his billions Bill Gates has invested in ID4D. Still, undoubtedly, his “catalytic contributions” are significant. The UK Government has also committed millions, as has the French Government, the Omidyar Network, and NORAD. The notion of a world entirely dependent upon technology is frightening. In the hands of authoritarian regimes, digital identity systems could be used to suppress dissent, limit freedom of movement, or restrict access to resources and services for those not following the game plan. We just lived through this scenario with COVID-19. Unless the craze towards digital enslavement is halted, imagine how much more sinister the tyranny will be surrounding the next pandemic crisis.

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Tracy Beanz & Michelle Edwards

Tracy Beanz is an investigative journalist with a focus on corruption. She is known for her unbiased, in-depth coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. She hosts the Dark to Light podcast, found on all major video and podcasting platforms. She is a bi-weekly guest on the Joe Pags Radio Show, has been on Steve Bannon’s WarRoom and is a frequent guest on Emerald Robinson’s show. Tracy is Editor-in-chief at UncoverDC.com.