Cashless Societies: Freedom
or Surveillance?
As reliance on digital systems grows, the cracks in their foundation expose a critical
question: what happens when cash disappears—and control takes over?
These examples show how quickly lives unravel when cash is no longer an option. But this
isn’t just a problem for other nations—it’s already happening in the U.S.
Sweden: The High-Tech Trap: In Sweden, where less than 2% of transactions use
cash2, a 2018 power outage left residents stranded. Those with cash could still buy
essentials. Others? Completely helpless.
India: Overnight Chaos: India’s 2016 demonetization removed 86% of cash overnight3.
Rural areas without the internet were paralyzed. Families scrambled for basic
necessities, and small businesses suffered catastrophic losses.
Global Lessons: When Cash Fails, So Do Systems
2. https://www.business-sweden.com/insights/articles/cashless-society
3. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-37974423
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