Euroviews. We deserve better than the digital euro

.The unethical and unchecked use of artificial intelligence is the threat du jour, both for those working to preserve personal freedoms and companies seeking to secure their market competitiveness. 

But as we're learning, artificial intelligence analysis needs data to be effective.

At this moment, powerful forces are converging that will provide AI models with some of the most damaging data available — the personal financial activities of EU citizens and residents. 

This treasure trove will be used to decide everything from how social security and pensions are distributed to how EU residents and companies can spend their money.

We are all familiar with the technology making this possible — it's called the digital euro. It, paired with the emergence of AI, means it is now highly likely that the democratic protections afforded to us in our current system of exchange can be undemocratically replaced by the ability of the state to view and restrict our financial activities.

This state of affairs won't be restricted to the EU — anyone worldwide who transacts with the EU will be privy to this medium of control.

The ECB was slow to develop the digital euro. The digital euro has been in development since 2020. 

Originally planned to preserve the role of central banks in the supply of money, it was an apparent response to the explosion of digital currencies outside of state control. 

Unfortunately for those operating within and with the EU, it is now entering its "preparation phase" just as artificial intelligence arrives.

At the same time, the years-long resistance from EU lawmakers to create meaningful policy means we've yet to see a healthy adoption of stablecoins and other payment technologies that could have done away with the need