[LINK] myki - a tracking device (was Re: more myki pain)

[andrew clarke]

On Sun 2010-04-11 15:05:03 UTC+1000, Craig Sanders (cas at taz.net.au) wrote:

> AFAICT, unless the Vic govt and transport ministry is completely stupid
> or completely corrupt (i wouldn't entirely rule out either), the real,
> unstated reason behind myki is the ability to track where individuals
> travel to and from, and where they are at the moment. this, of course,
> requires real-time networking.

>From what I understand anyone can request a Myki card from their web
site in without providing any form of ID.  You just have to provide a
valid address where you want them to send the card.

In theory the government could use realtime CCTV to identify people
and link them with their Myki cards when they're touched-on at some
railway stations (not all stations have CCTV), but this won't work on
trams or buses, nor particularly well at busy stations where there are
multiple points of entry.

I'm not sure how they would possibly determine "where you are at the
moment".  Not with any accuracy or reliability.

If someone has a particular reason for their destination to be unknown
they could choose to not touch-off.  Only relatively few stations have
barriers to stop people exiting without touching off.  Those people
would just need to weigh up the inconvenience of being charged the
full fare (for not touching-off) and versus possibly increased
privacy.

Myki won't prevent anyone seriously determined not to be followed from
travelling on public transport.  It will still be possible to fare
evade, particularly in the outer suburban areas, and on trams,
especially during peak.

Finally, arguably anyone not wanting their travel habits potentially
monitored (by anyone, not just the government) probably shouldn't be
using public transport.