‘Council says you can now pay using the QR code.’ I was shocked when I read this! What about people like me, who are technophobic or neo-Luddites? I don’t do ‘apps’ or two-factor verification or phone banking or… (I don’t even have a television!).
What about QR code scams? Yes, QR code scams are real, just google the term. The most basic is to cover an expected public code display with your own sticker (and then redirect to a spam site). Will Byron Council reimburse victims? Unlikely! Will Council waive fines for people without a smartphone? Unlikely!
I only noticed recently, when we visited the sculpture exhibition, that all parking meters in Brunswick Heads only take mobile phone payments through an app! How ridiculous! It’s forcing people to own and use one.
This reminds me of a time about ten years ago, when I often failed to submit the most basic online forms – because I had to leave the ‘required’ field for a mobile phone number blank, simply because I didn’t have one. This then meant jumping through hoops to try to make contact with the organisation or company who wanted my details.
Some online orders (yes, occasionally I use such merchants, only not Amazon) were impossible to place without a mobile number. I’m not sure who loses out, the supplier or me. Only yesterday, I abandoned a shopping cart because the only payment options were some obscure app, PayPal, and GooglePay – neither of which I am inclined to use and provide my data to (Google and Facebook would be the last ones I want to give more data to).
Yes, you may call me old-fashioned, but at least I’m not completely alone. The popularity of dumbphones (google it!) is rising and almost every large retailer stocks at least a couple. People are realising that it’s better for their mental health and general wellbeing to ‘disconnect’.
In view of the planned TEx digital ID system it might very well be that more people choose not to comply and revert to simpler devices, which aren’t able to perform the required check-ins. That would put a lovely spanner into the global hegemony plans. I certainly don’t trust that my required data would be safe.
Then how will anybody be able to pay the parking meters in Bruns? Hint: coins or ‘old-fashioned’ credit cards might be the future! It still works in Byron Bay. I would definitely fight any fine in court – if I’m not provided with a basic non-smart-tech option.
Your neo-Luddite,
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
