5 ms·
Can I use this without having a Google or Apple account? I guess the answer is no. It's crazy that we are allowing these duopolies to be the arbiters of so many
by afandian 7y ago
Can I use this without having a Google or Apple account? I guess the answer is no. It's crazy that we are allowing these duopolies to be the arbiters of so many critical functions.
Arguments like this are the strongest for forced regulation and split up IMHO.
- roenxi 7y agoAnd - just to underline this point - drivers license is the de-facto Australian ID card. I can't think of an actual complaint against embedding US companies into what is in practice an important part of NSWs local governance; we might already do that credit and finance to some degree. But it just looks like another little step at creating a delicate system with single points of failure and unreasonably influential power-brokers.
- afandian 7y agoAll personal opinions: It comes down to alignment of incentives. Google (for the sake of argument) has got into so many facets of peoples' lives that it's hard to tell what's what. If you're percieved to have contravened one of the TOCs, or your credit card fails or something, you could have your account suspended with no recourse. And Google have shown time and again that they have zero interest in universal due process, fairness or customer service. That's fine - it's their business model and their call to make. But it is fundamentally out of step with the provision of essential services which should be afforded to all. And then add to that the fact that when it goes wrong it disproportionally affects those more vulnerable. It starts to look a lot like disenfranchisement of minorities. What if you suddenly have no phone or email, and that's your only way of communicating with your support network? What if Google decides to pull the plug on your phone and you don't have money to buy a new one? On the flip side, the government has a monopoly on welfare, violence, justice, etc. That's a good thing, and it's negotiated by democracy. However, using that monoploy to coerce people into using commercial duopolies is fundamentally anti-democratic.
- hestefisk 7y agoIsn’t the TurboTax / Windows monopoly with the IRS a similar case? Defacto standard gone monopoly for digital tax returns. I agree that the government cannot lock consumers into duopolies but you still have a choice to go and get a piece of plastic. They also really don’t have a choice if the objective is digital convenience —- outside of Apple and Google, there really isn’t any competition. If there were a proper, open mobile platform with no vendor lock in, I am sure NSW would support that as well.
- novok 7y agoYou can still use other tax return software, don't have to use windows with turbo tax and on top of it, use software that generates paper returns.
- astura 7y agoYep, I've been filing my taxes digitally for seven years (used paper forms before that) and I've never used TurboTax.
- robbya 7y agoI file using Turbotax using a web browser on linux. Why do you mention Windows?
- aussieguy1234 7y agoAs of the moment, the digital version can't be used as ID
- a10c 7y ago"The NSW Digital Driver Licence is accepted by most pubs and clubs, and NSW Police." Literally paragraph 3 of the article.
- rosege 7y agoI spoke to a JP a couple of days ago and she said they haven't been issued with a directive to accept it as ID when notarising forms so she wouldn't until she had received official word.
- x0 7y agoNSW liquor store employee, we were briefed on these last week and we accept them now.
- incompatible 7y agoDo you always verify them with the QR reader app? It'd be pretty easy for somebody to display fake data on their own device.
- squiggleblaz 7y agoIf you sell a sixpack to a 17 y.o. you thought was 18 because they gave you a fake digital licence, that's one problem. If you witness a statdec making claims about a specific person because they gave you a fake digital licence, that's a different problem.
- munk-a 7y agoThese are pretty informal usages, I'd be more curious if you could renew your passport using the digital driver's license.
- jimmcslim 7y agoPart of the plan under the Five Eyes intelligence sharing agreement perhaps?
- ra 7y agoYou're right. And I'm sure Service NSW had the best intentions, but were ignorant to the wider implication.
- afandian 7y agoI have no doubt about good intentions of individuals. It's more about where the buck stops.
- cylinder 7y agoNot Service NSW's remit to fix the world of tech. Most use Apple or Android, so that's what they did. It's logical and makes perfect sense. Want change? Demand it elsewhere. I love this app and initiative and am a user myself.
- BurningFrog 7y agoFrom the article: "It’s optional and doesn’t replace the plastic card"
- reaperducer 7y agoYet.
- novok 7y agoIt's going to be many decades before plastic cards go away, or the government is going to get really annoyed with old people screwing it up.
- undersuit 7y agoI have until October 2020 to replace my State ID with one that the US will recognize for flights. Luckily I can still use my passport for 8 more years instead of ponying up $35 to replace it right now. My point is the government can and will make your life a pain.
- simonh 7y agoYou can say that about absolutely anything, therefore by itself it's meaningless.
- doomjunky 7y ago
- throwaheyy 7y agoThey're not exactly arbiters of critical functions, the government issuing the drivers licence is. This is just an additional convenience feature.
- Rebelgecko 7y agoWhat do you need an account for? Does the APK not work if you sideload it?