Police [attempt] access QR code checkins

Mike Harding · Guru

Police [attempt] access QR code checkins

Wanda · Guru

You can still sign in, as I do!

Possum3 · Guru

The "Big Brother" World is with us - There's naught you or I will/can ever do to put the lid back on the box.

It won't effect the running of the World if the AFP know the location of some old farts camping in the bush, and obtain details on the secret life of us.

If they rounded us all up and put us in gaol, just think how much better off we would be, No work, kept fed (good tucker too), TV and Library and no bloody annoying calls trying to sell us Solar Panels.

Goodness and in the event that we are in a situation where we may have a deadly disease they may notify those around us, some near and dear even.

bgt · Guru

Possum3 you can always claim you have gender issues and get sent to a female lockup. Or should I say a they lockup!

Grandad5 · Senior Member

So, let me see if I have this right.

The government implemented a system to try and keep us all a bit safer from contracting Covid-19.

Some police have tried to use this same system to catch a criminal.

At least some Australian's response to that is to henceforth fake the use of the system so it will no longer work for either use.

Good-Oh..... So, we can now add, "Screw you, Jack, I'm OK" to the list of Australian values.

Got it. I think I understand now.

Jim

bgt · Guru

Granda5 I don't believe anyone has an issue with an app as such that tracks what it was intended to be used for. The issue is the miss use of the app. Where's the security? If the police can 'miss' use then who else can get their hands on it?

Australians are skeptical lot. Always have been. Unless governments can guarantee the security and use of any such app then it will be avoided by many. It's not about giving other Australians the middle finger.

Greg 1 · Guru

A couple of points on the WA issue. Yes the police did get a court warrant to access the app data to assist in catching a criminal. Note that they had to get a warrant to be able to access the data. It was not readily available to them. The WA government has viewed this as a breach of trust and has rapidly brought in legislation to prevent this loophole being used in the future by anyone for any purpose other than for what it was intended, so my view is that I will continue to use the app. The app is far more secure than signing in as anyone can get your name and phone number off a sign in register. It is not private.

landy · Guru

I think if I was a crim who did not want to be traced I would probably be the one pointing my phone at the barcode,
but there again if the people can,t trust their government why would the government expect to trust the people ???.
Landy.

Plain Truth · Guru

The nine most terrifying words in the English Language

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCedOQJ0ZEA

Tony LEE · Guru

Don't forget to check under the bed as you say your prayers Mike. Reds or boogie men might get you.

Sarco Harris · Senior Member

In Vic, the QR code scan is going to be required on public transport (PT.) This will be very interesting.

Anyone traveling on PT in Vic would have to have noticed how few people actually check on with their myki cards.

I suspect any cross referencing of myki and QR will be hidden way so deep it would never be found or alternately banned from occurring in the first place.

dogbox · Guru

landy wrote:

I think if I was a crim who did not want to be traced I would probably be the one pointing my phone at the barcode,
but there again if the people can,t trust their government why would the government expect to trust the people ???.
Landy.

i thought they used it to try and locate/identify witnesses to a gangland crime , which could ,if true, cause problems for the innocent public

dorian · Guru

It's not about a breach of privacy, it's about a betrayal of trust. Australia already has too many conspiracy nutters. This particular case will just add to their numbers. The police may have made a short term gain, but at what long term cost?

Rob Driver · Guru

All this carry on about a QR code reader but not a mention about any CCTV security camera.
We are all on record every day at almost every venue and street we visit.
If this is not bad enough, our phone in many instances is a tracker as well as are the use of reward cards and credit cards.

If a crook were to want an alibi using a QR code reader he would just get someone else to scan his phone.

Oh wait they ( the crooks) may have a burner phone ( from tv crime shows ) and then the QR code is useless anyway.

This topic reminds me of why I rarely participate in campside Happy Hours these days.

But carry on.

Regards

Rob

Grandad5 · Senior Member

bgt wrote:
Granda5 I don't believe anyone has an issue with an app as such that tracks what it was intended to be used for. The issue is the miss use of the app. Where's the security? If the police can 'miss' use then who else can get their hands on it?

Australians are skeptical lot. Always have been. Unless governments can guarantee the security and use of any such app then it will be avoided by many. It's not about giving other Australians the middle finger.

Hey, bgt, don't get me wrong. I totally understand. I was just ensuring I have the new normal correctly tied in.
I mean, I've thought about the what-ifs of all of this and it's quite frightening.

If someone or anyone other than the government should access my data on this app then any old somebody would know that last Tuesday I was at Bunnings between 1 PM and 1:30 PM. Can you just imagine the possible consequences for me should that information get out? That would be like someone getting the PIN for my EFTPOS card or my username and password for my internet banking.

And, you know what is even more frightening? They'd have my name and phone number. Imagine that! Why they might try to ring me. And even worse, they may even try to sell me something. What the hay would I do then?

No, I'm with all of you guys. My privacy in this matter is paramount.

After all, what's the worst that can happen? I unknowingly contract Covid and before I show any symptoms I may possibly pass it on to somebody else who was at Bunnings last Tuesday between 1 PM and 1:30 PM. And, ok......they may then take that virus home and infect a loved one. Someone might even die but none of that would be my fault, would it? No-one could expect me to give up my privacy just to save a stranger.

Thank you to everyone here who has woken me up to the seriousness of the consequences of considering my fellow countrymen. Screw em I say. It's all about me from now on.

Jim

peter67 · Guru

bentaxlebabe wrote:
All this carry on about a QR code reader but not a mention about any CCTV security camera.
We are all on record every day at almost every venue and street we visit.
If this is not bad enough, our phone in many instances is a tracker as well as are the use of reward cards and credit cards.

If a crook were to want an alibi using a QR code reader he would just get someone else to scan his phone.

Oh wait they ( the crooks) may have a burner phone ( from tv crime shows ) and then the QR code is useless anyway.

This topic reminds me of why I rarely participate in campside Happy Hours these days.

But carry on.

Regards

Rob

Nicely summed up Rob.

bgt · Guru

Grandad5 I don't believe you. No one can get in and out of Bunnings in under 30 minutes. :).

Mike Harding · Guru

Grandad5 wrote:
If someone or anyone other than the government should access my data on this app then any old somebody would know that last Tuesday I was at Bunnings between 1 PM and 1:30 PM. Can you just imagine the possible consequences for me should that information get out?

What about the brothel you may visit? Or the ladies underwear shop you visit rather more often than a red blooded male should?

You miss the point totally or more likely you're a "If you have nothing to hide...." person. If you wish to live in a country where you are subject to random police surveillance then there are plenty for you to choose from - most of them are not nice places to live, believe you me, I've lived in a couple.

I accept that in normally, more or less, democratic societies we will occasionally have to accept a temporary restriction of our normal liberties for the good of all (covid, war etc) and to that end I was happy to do the "check in" thing but I have *NOT* agreed to have the police monitor my every move and *that* is the issue here.

And from a practical perspective if the "check in" system is to be of real use then as many as possible need to use it and allowing the police access is not the way to encourage people.

Grandad5 · Senior Member

Mike Harding wrote:
If you wish to live in a country where you are subject to random police surveillance then there are plenty for you to choose from - most of them are not nice places to live, believe you me, I've lived in a couple.

And, may I suggest that if you wish to live in a country where nobody trusts the government, everybody thinks only of themselves, their freedoms, their rights and screw everybody else then there is an obvious choice for you as well.

And, yes, you can believe me I've lived there and it's definitely not nice either.
Here in Australia, our underlying way of life has always been mateship. We look out for and take care of, each other.

Cheers
Jim

Grandad5 · Senior Member

bgt wrote:
Grandad5 I don't believe you. No one can get in and out of Bunnings in under 30 minutes. :).

I'll pay that bgt. biggrin

Jim

Mike Harding · Guru

Grandad5 wrote:
Here in Australia, our underlying way of life has always been mateship. We look out for and take care of, each other.

I see; so your argument is that refusing to be subject to random and unknown police surveillance is "un-Australian".

Rob Driver · Guru

Well I suppose that the next step will be that all drug dealers will have to get their clients to sign in via the QR code.

But even that is now foiled due to the WA govt passing legislation to protect that info as well.

Personally I dont care wether the police know I was in a pub for a meal and a beer or into any other shop or venue for that matter.

Thank you Greg 1 for providing the facts above.

No matter what our authorities do there will be a group of conspiracy theorists who will argue the negative.

Regards

Rob

-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021 12:09:07 PM

bgt · Guru

It's not a conspiracy theory. It's the thin edge of the wedge. What next? History is full of examples where the public trusted the politicians until it was too late. At some point people living in a so called Democratic society have to say enough is enough. Sure there are many examples now where we are tracked. But again I ask at what point is enough enough?

Possum3 · Guru

The mere fact that you are carrying a mobile phone allows surveillance to be undertaken - if the powers so wish.

Unless like me you use smoke signals, but then only use them of a night when the smoke can't been seen.

bgt · Guru

Possum3 so your the person who is creating all the pollution. Darn there I was think it was coal power.

msg · Guru

There are posters on here who are only able to counter someone with an opinion different to theirs as a "conspiracy theorist"" end of argument. Answers it all.

How about a sensible rebuttal now and again.

Mike Harding · Guru

bentaxlebabe wrote:

No matter what our authorities do there will be a group of conspiracy theorists who will argue the negative.

A theory is an unproved assumption.

I presented you with established, accepted and provable facts via The Age article.

Please explain to me why you infer I am a "conspiracy theorist"... and if you cannot I'd appreciate an apology.

bgt · Guru

Folks on either side of a debate could be labeled 'conspiracy theorists'. It's simply a label that folks use when they don't agree with something.

Rob Driver · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:

No matter what our authorities do there will be a group of conspiracy theorists who will argue the negative.
A theory is an unproved assumption.
I presented you with established, accepted and provable facts via The Age article.
Please explain to me why you infer I am a "conspiracy theorist"... and if you cannot I'd appreciate an apology.

Any public forum is made up of members with their individual opinions.

Any newspaper in the Western World has writers and authors who quite regularly pen their own beliefs and observations.

Conspiracy Theorists comment on many facts, situations and even outcomes.

From reading above I did not state that you were a Conspiracy Theorist.

If you really believe that QR codes threaten your privacy but CCTv cameras, phones, credit cards, etc aren't tracking you then that is your opinion and you are entitled to it.

There will be no apology forthcoming from me for participating on a public forum and if you think that any of my comments may refer to you then *pull that boot on mate*

Regards

Rob

bgt · Guru

OK something to ponder. We never got any nuisance calls on our mobile phone. (We don't have a landline). From almost the day we first scanned a QRcode we have 5-6 'unknown' calls a day. If you answer them you get several second of silence. That's when I hang up. Coincidence?