Federal Reserve CBDC Poses Privacy and Freedom Risks

The idea of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the US has ignited a contentious discussion, with issues like regulatory power and privacy taking center stage. Some of these concerns are clarified in a recent study by the American Principles Foundation Initiative (AFPI), which emphasizes the necessity of prudence and legislative monitoring.

Privacy Under Threat

The study from the AFPI presents an important issue: the possible loss of people’ financial privacy. A CBDC might provide the government unrestricted access to all financial transactions, raising concerns about the security of personal information held by people. Recent occurrences have raised questions about government agencies’ capacity to manage Americans’ transaction data securely, such as IRS data leaks.

According to the research, granting the government this level of access might pave the way for the selective exclusion of some populations from the financial system. Federal officials encouraged banks to break relationships with organizations like payday lenders and gun traffickers under the clandestine Operation Choke Point under President Obama, the article notes. The report notes, “The actions of the federal government during Operation Choke Point underscore the heart of the issue with giving the federal government full authority to bypass the law in accessing and censoring Americans’ financial privacy and assets.”

Unchecked Power and Regulatory Capacity

The authors Faulkender and Vasquez emphasize the dangers of giving the federal government unrestricted authority, particularly when it comes to circumventing legal procedures to access and perhaps censor the financial information and assets of Americans. They also question the Federal Reserve’s ability to start a CBDC in light of previous difficulties such sharp inflation increases and significant bank collapses. Three large bank collapses in the United States during the first half of 2023 have prompted questions about the Fed’s capacity to handle such financial upheaval.

Since the Federal Reserve cannot issue a CBDC without express Congressional permission, the AFPI study strongly urges congressional action. The authors support legislation that places limitations on the formation and operation of a CBDC in an effort to keep Congress solely responsible for the decision to launch a digital currency.

A Plea for Clarity and Boundaries

In conclusion, the paper acknowledges the potential advantages of new payment innovations but argues that these benefits shouldn’t be at the expense of concentrating fiscal management under the sole supervision of the Federal Reserve. The authors warn Congress against allowing the Federal Reserve to create a digital currency without clearly defining those limitations and emphasize the hazards to privacy and autonomy.

It’s important to note that presidential hopefuls Ron DeSantis and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have also expressed their opposition to CBDCs, contributing to the ongoing discussion over the future of digital currencies in the United States.

The balance between advancing technology and upholding fundamental rights like financial privacy continues to be a crucial issue for both the public and governments as the discussion heats up.