Well, that's changing the goal posts, but two points - one, they'd have to do it Europe-wide, and secondly such an unscrupulous government could add the tags anyway, we just make it a little easier
Yes, I know I changed the goal posts a bit. But it wouldn't be the first time a system is abused by a different government. Europe-wide is not a problem. They'll just call it harmonisation, which seems to be the favourite word of European politicians lately anyway. It's much easier to do it now, as almost noone will see a problem with the tags. When an unscrupulous government tries it, people will see the problems with it much faster.
The problem with it, is that it is open to abuse. Suppose a not so friendly government gets to run the country for a few years and does want to track the movement of cash. It makes it a law that every store has to have a reader, which sends the information to the big government database and it also makes sure the cash machines register which notes they give out to who. Et voila, you can follow what most of the people in the country are doing with the money.
Besides, in general it's a bad idea. I don't like walking around with a big sign on me saying I've got 100 euro's in my pocket for everyone with a cute little scanner. I don't care wether they've got good or bad intentions.
Slashdot Mirror
Well, that's changing the goal posts, but two points - one, they'd have to do it Europe-wide, and secondly such an unscrupulous government could add the tags anyway, we just make it a little easier
Yes, I know I changed the goal posts a bit. But it wouldn't be the first time a system is abused by a different government.
Europe-wide is not a problem. They'll just call it harmonisation, which seems to be the favourite word of European politicians lately anyway.
It's much easier to do it now, as almost noone will see a problem with the tags. When an unscrupulous government tries it, people will see the problems with it much faster.
The problem with it, is that it is open to abuse. Suppose a not so friendly government gets to run the country for a few years and does want to track the movement of cash.
It makes it a law that every store has to have a reader, which sends the information to the big government database and it also makes sure the cash machines register which notes they give out to who. Et voila, you can follow what most of the people in the country are doing with the money.
Besides, in general it's a bad idea. I don't like walking around with a big sign on me saying I've got 100 euro's in my pocket for everyone with a cute little scanner. I don't care wether they've got good or bad intentions.