- Critics warn the EU’s digital wallet could lead to excessive data collection (“over-identification”), eroding anonymity and enabling surveillance by governments or corporations.
- Even with user control, experts like Henk Marsman argue people can be nudged into sharing more data than necessary through design tricks, discounts or opaque consent mechanisms.
- “Relying parties” (e.g., banks, services) may exploit the system to demand extra personal data, driven by profit motives rather than necessity.
- Storing sensitive data (IDs, medical records, etc.) in one place increases risks of breaches, identity theft and loss of access if devices are compromised or lost.
- Despite objections from civil society and experts about unconstitutional risks (e.g., in Germany, Austria) and surveillance concerns, the EU proceeded with deployment.
(Natural News)—As the European Union (EU) prepares for the full-scale deployment of its Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet this fall, privacy advocates and experts are sounding the alarm over potential overreach in data collection and user manipulation.
The EUDI Wallet, currently in its testing phase, is designed to give EU citizens a single, secure platform to store and share digital credentials – from driver’s licenses to medical records. This wallet will store digital versions of national ID cards, driving licenses, academic credentials and medical records, allowing users to authenticate themselves online and offline. The system, currently voluntary, is marketed as a way to reduce bureaucracy and enhance cross-border digital services. (Related: U.K. set to launch controversial DIGITAL ID system in 2025, sparking privacy concerns.)
However, Henk Marsman, a researcher at Delft University of Technology and consultant at SonicBee, argued that without stringent safeguards, the initiative risks enabling excessive data harvesting by businesses and governments, undermining the very privacy it claims to protect. Henk warned that user control alone does not ensure privacy, as people can be easily manipulated by design tricks, dark patterns, or financial incentives—even when they believe they are making informed decisions.
“Even though I think I’m an autonomous being and I make informed decisions, I can be quite easily manipulated and influenced by nudging techniques, by dark patterns, or just by a five percent discount,” Marsman said during the European Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC) in Berlin.
The issue, Marsman explained, lies in the incentives of “relying parties” – businesses and services that request identity verification. Many operate on data-driven models, creating a built-in motivation to demand more data than strictly needed.
“If the relying party wouldn’t ask too much, we wouldn’t have this risk. One of the challenges with relying parties is that they have a data-driven business model or at least some of them have, and that is the incentive to get more data off their users,” Marsman continued.
Dangers of centralizing sensitive data
Digital rights groups and lawmakers raised alarms earlier in March before its testing phase. Critics argue that the wallet could lead to “over-identification,” forcing users to disclose excessive personal information for routine transactions, eroding online anonymity.
According to civil society groups, the centralization of sensitive data in a single digital wallet also poses serious threats, including security breaches that could expose personal IDs, financial details and medical records. Compromised wallets could facilitate identity theft and fraudulent activities, while heavy reliance on devices means losing a smartphone could result in losing access to critical documents – or worse, unauthorized access if security measures fail.
“The implementation of unique and persistent identifiers within the EUDI Wallet could facilitate extensive tracking of individuals’ online behaviors. This raises concerns about the potential for pervasive surveillance and profiling by both governmental bodies and private entities, infringing upon personal freedoms and privacy rights,” Ken Macon wrote for Reclaim the Net.
But despite all these warnings and debates over safeguards, transparency and user control, the EU still rolled out the EUDI Wallet.
Follow PrivacyWatch.news for more news about the digital ID system. Watch the video below to learn how digital IDs signify the end of freedom in Australia and other countries across the globe.
This video is from the Sovereign Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- Americans who refuse to sign up for “voluntary” government-issued digital ID may be DENIED health care services.
- Australian parliament passes digital ID law to enshrine the globalist control matrix down under.
- Globalist organizations step up efforts to make digital IDs mandatory for people to participate in society by 2030.
- U.S. states are passing internet age verification laws as a cover to compel people into using digital IDs.
- Scotland’s digital ID system sparks “Big Brother” fears amid privacy backlash.
Sources include:
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.