Public petitions highlight strong opposition to the digital euro
The strong public concern about the privacy implications of a digital euro has manifested in formal petitions to the European Parliament . These petitions, submitted by citizens from various EU member states, express deep unease with the very concept of a central bank digital currency. Petitioners argue that the digital euro project represents an unjustified and disproportionate interference with fundamental rights, such as personal autonomy, freedom of choice, human dignity, and freedom of movement . The central argument is that the ability to track and potentially condition financial transactions on a massive scale would lead to increased state surveillance and a profound loss of privacy . Even if the digital euro were not made mandatory, petitioners contend that the gradual restriction or marginalization of physical cash could make it de facto obligatory, thereby undermining financial self-determination and creating a society where all economic activity is subject to potential oversight .