Page 45 - TruthAboutLyingFinalAmazon18

Nicholas Boothman
“Employers start requiring it,” she continued.
“Governments call it ‘public trust infrastructure.’ Parents put
it on their kids. Partners demand it from each other.”
“You won’t need to convince ten percent,” she said. “The
first five will recruit the next five for you.”
Henry looked at the glowing map, then back at her.
“And after that?”
Jinji’s expression didn’t change.
“After that,” she said, “the system doesn’t need
adoption.”
A pause.
“It needs fear.”
Silence settled over the room.
Then, almost softly:
“People don’t have to believe in Verax,” she said.
“They just have to believe that other people are using it.
“By the time the sun hits the horizon six months from
now, Verax will have its claws in everything. Every time a
user tries to swipe a card, buy a train ticket, or unlock a door,
the app demands a biometric "clear" from the neck. If they
try to "spin" a truth or hide a fact during a transaction, the
app’s interface will pulse a violent, blood-red color, freezing
their accounts and locking their car doors instantly.
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