Oracle cofounder and the former richest man in the world Larry Ellison apparently believes AI-driven surveillance is in our collective future. At least, it should be. Last year, Ellison said the following:

“We’re going to have supervision. Every police officer is going to be supervised at all times, and if there’s a problem, AI will report that problem and report it to the appropriate person. Citizens will be on their best behavior because we are constantly recording and reporting everything that’s going on.”

“Citizens will be on their best behavior.” If that doesn’t send chills up your spine, I’m not sure what will. The fact that Ellison was so blasé in this remark shows how he hasn’t thought through the dark implications of this form of digital surveillance. I wish I didn’t have to make such constant reference to Orwell’s 1984, but some of these tech moguls are really asking for it.

Ellison’s comments are newly relevant in light of the United Kingdom’s recent push for “digital ID cards.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he believes these ID cards (called a “Britcard”) will help stem the flow of incoming illegal immigrants. According to The New York Times,

Polling suggests that a majority of people in Britain support the idea of a national ID system, with respondents favoring the concept of a single card that could function as an ID, passport and driving license. But when asked in more detail about a digital ID, people voice concerns about data security and civil liberties.

People in Britain have a reason for concerns. The recent spate of arrests made in the U.K. over alleged speech violations have put a pall over the entire Western world. Most Americans can’t fathom that an unsavory social media post could earn them a knock on their front door a day later. But that’s happening in Europe on a near daily basis, and it isn’t such a far-fledged possibility in the United States, either. A digital ID card, then, could amplify and deepen the crisis of speech in Britain. Despite the very real problem of illegal immigration in Europe, is it worth sacrificing the civil liberties of a country’s citizenry to address?

Larry Ellison’s Oracle also made a $300 billion deal with OpenAI, and the company is also expected to be one of the companies to purchase TikTok, which President Donald Trump wants to be owned and operated by an American company.

So, the man who believes AI-surveillance is in our future is about to have even more influence over social media and its algorithms. Will digital ID cards come to the United States, too? Or will Britain serve as a negative example and encourage the American power brokers to go another way, one that doesn’t involve total surveillance and the invasion of our private data?