The purpose of the “Back to Center” advice column is to provide perspectives for personal realignment and empowered living in the COVID era. Sarah encourages you to reach out to her with requests for advice about self-development and emotional and mental well-being in these complicated times. Please send your questions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:advice@aflds.org">advice@aflds.org</a>. Looking forward to hearing from you!For all other inquiries, please direct your questions to <a href="mailto:info@aflds.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">info@aflds.org</a>.&nbsp;I just can’t understand how so many people around me are buying into the lies of COVID. How do they not see what’s going on?? I walk around so much of the time feeling angry as I see people wearing masks (even outside!) and just blindly following along with what the government tells them. I feel like I’ve given up on them – I don’t even want to try to change anyone’s mind anymore. What do I do with all this anger? And is there hope for humanity?I hear you, my friend. I have looked around and felt the same frustration at times! It’s really difficult when feel you can see a bigger picture than everyone else around you, and it can be easy to fall into despair, feeling like they’ll never change. And you’re not just frustrated and despairing – you are angry.To begin, I want to leave other people, and humanity at large, out of it for the moment. I want to talk only with you. Walking around feeling angry all the time is no way to live, and it sounds like you don’t want to feel this way.&nbsp;So, I want to ask you: What is it exactly about the choices of others that’s making you so angry? After all, it sounds like you are doing what’s right for you – you’re choosing not to wear a mask, not to just go along with what you’re being told to do. You’re living according to your values and beliefs…so why all the anger about how other people are choosing to live their lives?I’m wondering if there’s something else underneath the anger. Anger can sometimes act as a cover for fear. Is there something about this experience of watching the people around you comply with all the COVID rules that is scary for you? What do their actions mean for you? If you are feeling afraid, I would venture to guess that that fear might ultimately be stemming from loneliness.&nbsp;It can be hard to feel like you’re the only one who gets it…to feel you are standing alone on one side, and everyone else is on the other, even if you firmly believe that you are standing on solid ground. It’s great to feel in the right, but right can also feel lonely. And loneliness can lead to the fear that no one will ever come stand beside you, and that fear can lead to anger about the injustice of it all and blame towards other people for not seeing what you see.So, what do you do with that anger? If I’m guessing right that at the core, maybe it’s really about loneliness for you, I would suggest making an extra effort to connect with others who feel the same as you. Even though you may feel like the “only one,” there are many people out there in the world who have their eyes open, like you. Connecting with them (even virtually, if it’s hard to find in-person connections) may help to ease that blameful anger and bring in some hope again.One last thing – Once you are feeling more connected and hopeful, here’s something to think about: Consider getting angry again. Yes, that’s right! Feel free to get angry again. But this time, don’t let it be the anger of blame or fear. Let it be the kind of anger that is fired up by injustice and untruth, the kind of anger that can propel you to powerful action. We need people everywhere to speak up against this tyranny. We need your voice too.&nbsp;So, “Is there hope for humanity?” I believe the answer is yes, as long as we choose to let our anger drive us forward to create a better world than the one we’ve been living in the past few years.May you have hope and the kind of anger that can change the world!****Both my wife and I have not been fans of this vaccine. My wife is a nurse who once worked at Pfizer in Michigan and said from the start that vaccines aren’t developed overnight; it takes five to seven years, not months.Forward to now: Her sister is sick with Parkinson’s, and we are needing to take her home to the Philippines which calls for the vaccine to travel. Now my wife is willing to take the sacrifice for her sister and I'm sick to my stomach thinking about it.Wow, what a difficult situation. I hear the deep pain you’re in over your wife’s decision. She believes from her professional experience that something’s not right with this vaccine, and yet here she is considering taking it for her sister’s sake. You sound so worried for your wife.I’d like to start my response to you by pointing out something that may be getting lost in the turmoil of the situation, and which will hopefully help to reframe it. Here it is: It seems to me that your wife must be an incredibly loving and brave woman. She believes that taking the vaccine is risky, and yet she’s willing to do it in order to see her ill sister safely home. Whether it’s right or wrong, whether you agree with her feelings about it or not, please know that you have an amazing wife. Not everyone would be willing to make a sacrifice like that, even for someone they love dearly.I don’t know exactly what the conversation between the two of you has looked like up until now.&nbsp;But I’m wondering how it would go if you were to try talking to your wife about it again, and this time, frame what you say to her in recognition of the greatness of her heart and intention. Put the conflicting opinions aside for a moment, and just focus on who she is. It could go something like this: “I want to tell you how much I value the person that you are. To want to do something like this for your sister – it’s so loving and courageous. You’re putting someone you love before yourself in such a big way, and that is an amazing thing. I just want you to know I see it, and that I love who you are…” or whatever words feel right to you.Most likely, it will mean so much to your wife to receive this kind of acknowledgment and affirmation from you. Hopefully it will help diffuse tensions and bring a more positive and unified feel to the situation. From that new place of closeness, you might choose to continue the conversation along these lines: “Can we talk about this again? I’m really worried about you. Is it possible that there might be a different way to work this out? Let’s brainstorm some ideas together…” I wonder how focusing on solving the problem together might impact the conversation and outcome. Sometimes cooling down the feeling of conflict and choosing to be on the same team can open up new options and opportunities that neither person could see before.&nbsp;Whatever happens, I wish you, your wife, and her sister complete health and safety, and the ability to stay close to each other in these complicated times!****Yesterday, I had the experience of going mask-less in a building where masks are technically “required.” I was there for an extended time and was one of maybe three people not wearing a mask. I felt such a mix of emotions about it. On the one hand, I was so proud of myself for staying strong, but also felt stressed and anxious about being so conspicuously different. I came out of there with a bit of a stomachache and general feeling of depression. When I’m just on my own at home, and I think about being someone who stands up against injustice, it fills me with idealism and courage. That’s how I want to feel when I’m doing it in practice too, but out in the world, it just feels kind of sad and anxiety-producing. Can you give me any insights into this?The first thing I want to say is: Good for you. You stuck to your principles and did not put that mask on, even though it felt really uncomfortable. That takes a lot of courage, even if you didn’t feel courageous.But I hear that you want to feel differently in these moments. You want to feel brave and inspired. You want to be able to grasp the magnitude of what you are doing when you publicly choose to not comply, and let it make you feel great about yourself. I have a few suggestions that I hope you’ll find helpful (and fun!).&nbsp;First, I’ll share something I do when I’m about to head into a situation where I want to feel empowered, energetic, and strong: I put on one of my power songs. These are the songs that are deeply, personally meaningful to me; the ones that hit me in the core of who I am and make me feel like I can do anything. Sometimes I dance to the song, and sometimes I just sit and soak it in. Do you have power songs of your own? You can choose songs that have special messages that resonate with you, that call you to remember and embody that brave, idealistic, heroic person you are. Try it! It only takes three or four minutes, and it can completely change the way you feel. And then you can call that song up in your mind later if people start looking at you strangely for not wearing a mask, or anytime you start to feel that anxiety creeping in and fill yourself with its positive energy. That’s one way you can take that brave self you feel at home out into the world with you.&nbsp;You can also try taking a bird’s eye view of the situation. What do I mean by this? When you’re in a moment where you are choosing not to follow what the rest of the crowd is doing, do a little visualization. Imagine you are a bird flying high above the scene that the real you is participating in. What do you see? Who is that person standing out so boldly from the rest of the crowd? What kind of person does she have to be to be able to do that? What are all the ways she’s being so strong in her life right now?Just doing this little visualization to “rise above” the situation you’re in on the ground can change the feeling of what’s going on for you. It can give you new perspectives on how you are being in the world, which can infuse you with new inspiration and courage to keep going.&nbsp;One more suggestion: Try writing a little story in which you are the heroine. Depict yourself with all the awesome characteristics you want to have in life right now: strength, bravery, steadfastness, leadership…whatever is the best version of you. Write about all the amazing things you do with those amazing traits. Feel free to illustrate it if you want! Revisit it whenever you need to remember who you really are, and let it continue to inspire you when you’re out in the world doing your thing.I hope these suggestions help you see that you have the power to decide how to see yourself and what you’re doing. You’re already choosing to swim against the stream – now you can choose to celebrate and feel great about yourself while you’re doing it! All the best!&nbsp;Previous columns:<ul style="list-style-type:initial;"><li><a href="https://aflds.org/news/post/back-to-center-i-deeply-regret-taking-the-vaccine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'I deeply regret taking the vaccine'</a></li><li><a href="https://aflds.org/news/post/back-to-center-married-39-years-and-i-thought-we-were-on-the-same-page-when-it-came-to-things-that-mattered-most/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'Married 39 years and I thought we were on the same page when it came to things that mattered most'</a></li><li><a href="https://aflds.org/news/post/back-to-center-how-do-i-repair-this-relationship-or-accept-that-i-may-never-see-my-son-again/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘How do I repair this relationship or accept that I may never see my son again?’</a></li><li>‘<a href="https://aflds.org/news/post/back-to-center-how-can-i-stop-fear-from-controlling-my-every-thought-and-ruining-my-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How can I stop fear from controlling my every thought and ruining my dreams?’</a></li><li><a href="https://aflds.org/news/post/how-can-i-pursue-my-dream-to-find-the-person-to-marry-when-its-so-hard-to-connect-with-new-people-because-of-covid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'How can I pursue my dream to find the person to marry, when it's so hard to connect with new people because of COVID?'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.americasfrontlinedoctors.org/news/post/how-can-i-feel-safe-these-days/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'How can I feel safe these days?'</a></li><li><a href="https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/news/post/advice-column-premier-back-to-center/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Advice column premier: Back to Center</a></li></ul>Sarah encourages you to reach out to her with requests for advice! Please send your questions to <a href="mailto:advice@aflds.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advice@aflds.org</a><figure class="image image-style-align-left image_resized" style="width:428px;"><img src="https://aflds.rbrdigital.app/uploads/image_def5830ec1.jpeg"></figure>Sarah Perron is a Certified Transformational Life Coach. Her passion is to help people create a powerful vision for their lives, identify and eliminate anything that holds them back, and step into their own unique greatness and mission in the world. She believes deeply in the power of coaching to bring fresh perspectives, ideas, and motivation to anyone who wants to thrive in life. Sarah works with clients one-on-one and in group coaching programs and presents exciting workshops on self-development topics. You can follow her on her YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTlPdMbwe8QAfP5NUR3GRRQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Find Your Fire</a>.You are invited to book a complimentary coaching call with Sarah! Please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Fsarahperroncoaching%2F45min&amp;data=04%7C01%7Csones%40aflds.org%7C31d93fd5f0224c8ae79008da065d1c0c%7Cb86874a894e144f8891fcd4fa7ac80e6%7C1%7C0%7C637829294605931269%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=ypWrVm9gI8jDagbivpnoHD1M%2F%2F4CKS4v1YoGUWUGpMQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://calendly.com/sarahperroncoaching/45min</a>&nbsp;to choose a time that's convenient&nbsp;for you. She looks forward to meeting you!

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'What do I do with all this anger? Is there hope for humanity?'

Back to Center: 'My wife is willing to take the sacrifice for her sister and I'm sick to my stomach thinking about it'

A British vigilante group known as the “Blade Runners” is receiving widespread support from British taxpayers as it continues to destroy climate surveillance cameras across London.<h2>The ULEZ mandate</h2>By order of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the city is peppered with ultra-low emission zones (ULEZs), areas accessible only to low-emission vehicles. Cars that do not meet the city’s environmental standards are charged £12.50 ($16) for entering the ULEZ. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras positioned around the zones read license plates and check them against the vehicles’ make and model in real time. If a vehicle does not meet the environmental threshold, a fine is levied against the car owner.&nbsp;The ULEZ climate mandate has drawn heavy&nbsp;<a href="https://frontline.news/post/london-hundreds-protest-against-climate-mandates">protests</a> from residents, including&nbsp;<a href="https://frontline.news/post/british-veteran-launches-hunger-strike-as-unrest-grows-over-climate-mandates">hunger strikes</a> and refusals to pay fines. Taxpayers have also taken to disabling the ANPR surveillance cameras which Transport for London (TfL), the city’s transportation department, said will be used both for climate and law enforcement.<h2>Taxpayers cheer the ‘Blade Runners’</h2>Since the climate restrictions were expanded last year, the Blade Runners have taken to disabling and destroying hundreds of cameras. Between April and September 2023, Metropolitan Police recorded 200 reports of cameras being stolen and 595 reports of cameras being vandalized.TfL began placing black boxes around ULEZ camera wirings to protect them from being cut, but taxpayers found other ways to disable the cameras — like removing them completely.<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"> MUST SEE: Blade Runners topple THREE ULEZ cameras in a coordinated strike… The people are fighting back! <a href="https://t.co/Yvr2Xr7Lun">pic.twitter.com/Yvr2Xr7Lun</a>— David Morgan #StayFree (@david_r_morgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/david_r_morgan/status/1802726912050995623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In response, the city&nbsp;<a href="https://frontline.news/post/london-taxpayers-attack-surveillance-vans-in-continued-revolt">deployed</a> mobile surveillance vans mounted with ANPR cameras across London in the hopes of evading attacks, but Blade Runners soon began targeting those as well. Some surveillance vans have been spotted covered in graffiti with their tires slashed, while others have been completely covered in tarp.Last month, 21 cameras were destroyed in the hours after Sadiq Khan was re-elected mayor of London, the&nbsp;Daily Mail&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13538797/Moment-Blade-Runner-uses-power-tool-cut-ULEZ-camera-traffic-light-latest-attack-Sadiq-Khans-hated-scheme.html">reported</a>. Last weekend, Blade Runners used power tools to topple a ULEZ camera and traffic lights to the delight of some fellow taxpayers. In a video that was posted to social media, passing cars can be heard honking in support.The video received over 37,000 likes. Comments on the post were largely supportive, with users writing that, “When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty,” and “Fair play to them, it's a complete scam that does nothing.”Blade Runner Matt Hardy told the&nbsp;Daily Mail&nbsp;that the Blade Runners are “people pissed off about the tyranny reigning over us and getting out and doing things about it – real votes, real boys here.”<h2>‘These cameras are not about the climate. They are about control’</h2>British actor and influencer Laurence Fox said this week he was just given back his electronic devices by police after being arrested earlier this year for cheering on the Blade Runners:<blockquote>These cameras are not about the climate. They are about control. They are the primary infrastructure for all sorts of things that ideologues like the midget dictator [Sadiq Khan] would like to impose upon us.I can now finally say the word ‘Bladerunners’ again. One of the ridiculous restrictions on free speech imposed by the police.It’s a dreadful shame to see so many of these cameras dying suddenly. I’m not at all thrilled about it. Just because I am smiling like a Cheshire Cat, it doesn’t mean that I am over the moon that these scameras continue to topple in high winds.&nbsp;Vive la résistance!</blockquote><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">POLICE UPDATE Following 6 coppers bursting into my house earlier this year to arrest me for saying how pleased I was that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ULEZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ULEZ</a> scam was meeting such robust resistance, this morning the <a href="https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@metpoliceuk</a> were ordered by the magistrate to hand back all my devices, including my…— Laurence Fox (@LozzaFox) <a href="https://twitter.com/LozzaFox/status/1803030521095622912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> &nbsp;

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Pushback_Resistance

Climate Change

‘Pissed off about the tyranny reigning over us’

British taxpayers cheer vigilante group destroying climate cams

Fisker is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the electric vehicle (EV) company announced Tuesday.<h2>‘Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry’</h2>“Fisker has made incredible progress since our founding, bringing the Ocean SUV to market twice as fast as expected in the auto industry and making good on our promises to deliver the most sustainable vehicle in the world,” a spokesperson <a href="https://assets.ctfassets.net/cghen8gr8e1n/6W19OiEBJDVIFVEmo4feHA/df902c5cb2b067251a300efb0b35f611/Fisker-Filing-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>.The California-based company added it is not the only EV maker that has been struggling to stay in business.“We are proud of our achievements, and we have put thousands of Fisker Ocean SUVs in customers’ hands in both North American [sic] and Europe. But like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic headwinds that have impacted our ability to operate efficiently. After evaluating all options for our business, we determined that proceeding with a sale of our assets under Chapter 11 is the most viable path forward for the company.”Fisker’s collapse is the latest indication that the EV industry is folding due to sinking demand. Other EV industry players are also cutting their losses as they jump ship.<h2>Hertz</h2>In March, Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr&nbsp;<a href="https://www.motorfinanceonline.com/news/hertz-ceo-resigns-amid-ev-investment-setback/#:~:text=Scherr's%20departure%20coincides%20with%20Hertz's,electric%20vehicle%20(EV)%20rentals">resigned</a> after his bet on EVs cost the car rental giant its biggest quarterly loss since 2020. Hertz had been praised by the Biden administration for its ambition to convert 25% of its fleet to EVs by the end of this year. In January, however, the company announced it would instead be selling its 20,000 EVs — including Teslas — at heavily discounted prices and replacing them with gas-powered cars.<h2>Mercedes-Benz</h2>Mercedes-Benz also recently had to give up its ambition to only sell electric cars by 2030. Instead, EVs are expected to make up only 50% of the German carmaker’s sales over the next decade.<h2>Apple</h2>In February, Apple abandoned its multi-billion dollar effort to create an electric car. Despite being a decade in the works and employing 2,000 people, Project Titan was axed due to falling consumer demand.<h2>Aston Martin</h2>A lack of consumer demand is also partly to blame for Aston Martin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13138123/Aston-Martin-puts-brakes-new-electric-supercar-2026-bosses-say-drivers-want-engines-throaty-roar.html">placing</a> its battery-operated “supercar” on hold until 2026.“Demand, certainly at an Aston Martin price point, is not what we thought it was going to be two years ago,” said Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll.&nbsp;<h2>Ford</h2>In December, Ford slashed production of its flagship EV at its assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan by half. The automaker cut the monthly production quote for the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck from 3,200 units to 1,600 units per month.<h2>Biden administration continues to force EV production</h2>Nevertheless, the Biden administration in March issued new climate mandates aimed at forcing more EV production. The new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contain tight emissions standards that will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-electric-vehicles-emissions-limits-climate-biden-e6d581324af51294048df24269b5d20a">require</a> 56% of new vehicle sales to be fully electric by 2032, with an additional 13% required to be hybrids.

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US News

Biden administration continues to force EV production

Electric car company files bankruptcy as EV market folds

For the last two years, British authorities have been testing AI-powered emotion recognition cameras on travelers in train stations, according to recently disclosed documents.<h2>What can the cameras see?</h2>In each of eight train stations around the UK, five to seven cameras or sensors scan the passing crowds. Using AI software from Amazon, the cameras use object recognition algorithms to spot criminal activity, trespassing, weapons, wet floors, overcrowding, and overstuffed trash cans.&nbsp;They can also alert authorities when passengers engage in “unusual behavior,” such as shouting, running, smoking, or skateboarding.&nbsp;A combination of existing cameras and newly installed smart cameras are being used for the surveillance project. All are equipped with Amazon’s Rekognition surveillance system.<h2>Emotional recognition</h2>Through a combination of facial and behavioral analyses, the Rekognition software allows officials to also <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-ai-cameras-emotions-uk-train-passengers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">analyze visitors’ emotions</a>. Internal documents note that the cameras can detect whether a passenger is “happy, sad [or] angry.” They can also recognize passenger satisfaction, which “could be utilized to maximum advertising and retail revenue.”<h2>Anti-social behavior</h2>Authorities can also detect passengers who exhibit “anti-social behaviour,” which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/what-is-antisocial-behaviour/">according</a> to London’s Metropolitan Police Service means “behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person.”<h2>Social distancing, face masks, and demographics</h2>Other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24757655-usecases_dpas_review_managed_stations?responsive=1&amp;title=1">use cases</a> for the surveillance cameras include detecting whether passengers are keeping to social distancing rules and wearing face masks. The cameras can also scan for demographics by identifying people’s age profiles and “socio-economic classification,” which the documents note can create “revenue opportunities for better targeted advertising and product placement.”<h2>‘Quite a concerning step’</h2>The documents were obtained by Big Brother Watch, a civil rights and government watchdog group, in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Network Rail, a body within the Department of Transportation which manages most of the country’s train network, has been overseeing the surveillance project.&nbsp;“The rollout and normalization of AI surveillance in these public spaces, without much consultation and conversation, is quite a concerning step,” Jake Hurfurt, head of research and investigations at Big Brother Watch,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-ai-cameras-emotions-uk-train-passengers/">told</a> Wired.As of now, the surveillance systems do not use facial recognition technology, which analyzes faces and matches them against facial images stored in certain databases.

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surveillance

World News

Cameras can also detect 'anti-social behavior,' social distancing

UK tests emotion recognition cameras in train stations

The European Union (EU) is considering subjecting foreign travelers to lie detector tests administered by AI technology.&nbsp;<h2>How would it work?</h2>Authorities at airports and ferry ports would use cameras equipped with machine-learning software to detect whether a person is being untruthful. As travelers fill out their entry applications, their eye, facial, and behavioral movements would be analyzed. If the camera indicates the traveler is lying, the software will send an alert to an immigration officer who will investigate.The technology has already been successfully tested in trials conducted by EU countries in the last few years. iBorderCtrl and TRESPASS, two such trials, explored how to create an automated border control system. Several features were tested, including the lie detector tests described above. They also piloted a feature in which AI software scans the social media accounts of travelers before granting them entry.Critics of the lie-detection scheme include Patrick Breyer, a German MEP. Breyer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13534215/Outrage-British-tourists-going-away-EU-countries-face-lie-detector-test-carried-artificial-intelligence-granted-entry.html">told</a> The Mail on Sunday that the technology is “pseudoscience” that threatens to profile the wrong people.&nbsp;“It will discriminate against anyone who is disabled or who has an anxious personality. It will not work,” said Breyer.<h2>Part of the Entry-Exit System</h2>If the EU decides to implement AI-powered lie detection, it will likely be introduced as part of the new Entry-Exit System (EES) due to take effect on October 6th. EES will replace the passport-stamping process by having foreign travelers apply for entry through self-service kiosks. These kiosks will collect the travelers’ biometric data, including their fingerprints and facial images.These data will eventually be stored in the Common Identity Repository (CIR), a massive database being built by the EU. The CIR will be capable of storing biometric files on 300 million individuals.&nbsp;<h2>EES for outsiders, digital ID for insiders</h2>While the EU prepares to roll out the EES for foreigners, including British citizens, it is also rolling out a digital ID program for EU citizens .Regulations that took effect last month&nbsp;<a href="https://frontline.news/post/europe-launches-digital-id-scheme/">require</a> EU&nbsp;Member States in the European Union to provide a digital ID wallet to their citizens by 2026 which must conform to the European Union Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet specifications. These specifications include the ability to store a taxpayer’s identity papers, such as driver’s licenses, health insurance cards, diplomas and other official documents.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>How will the wallet be used?</h2>The digital wallet will allow access to both public and private services. Uses include making payments, opening a bank account, getting prescriptions, signing contracts, traveling, accessing government services, receiving social security benefits, logging into social media accounts, and more.&nbsp;“It can also be used to facilitate the freedom of movement by storing documents such as the European Health Insurance Card,” explains the European Commission (EC) on its&nbsp;<a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eudi-wallet-implementation">website</a>.Under the current rules, the EUDI wallet will be optional for taxpayers.&nbsp;<h2>Critics raise concerns about the wallet</h2>The EUDI wallet’s main selling point is that users will be able to share only the details necessary to authenticate themselves for a given service. All other personal information will remain hidden. The EC expects this feature to satisfy widespread privacy concerns.But concerns about the wallet remain. The main worry is that while users only share those details that are necessary, the government can decide at any point which information is “necessary” to share. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the European Commission made proof of vaccination necessary to access services and establishments. Prior to that, each taxpayer’s health information was considered confidential.

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Technology could be introduced with new biometric entry system

Europe may subject travelers to lie detector tests

Back to Center: 'My wife is willing to take the sacrifice for her sister and I'm sick to my stomach thinking about it'

'What do I do with all this anger? Is there hope for humanity?'

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British taxpayers cheer vigilante group destroying climate cams

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UK tests emotion recognition cameras in train stations

Europe may subject travelers to lie detector tests