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Quite convenient for tracking people's consumption choices and discriminating based on them. Hi there! We've noticed an increase of fast food purchases in
by bheadmaster 3y ago
Quite convenient for tracking people's consumption choices and discriminating based on them.
Hi there! We've noticed an increase of fast food purchases in the log of your account. Therefore your medical insurance premiums have risen by 200% to accomodate the change. For lessened prices, you might want to start consuming our Healthy Food(TM) lunch packs by EvilCorp, made out of bugs for the good of the environment :)
- LiamPowell 3y agoWhy could this not also be done with currently used card systems?
- piuantiderp 3y agoMostly because the systems are old, limited in the amount of data they generate.
- alexchamberlain 3y agoThey are definitely generating and analysing this data in the US. I believe the data protection laws in the UK and EU prevent it here, at least to the scale. There is no doubt it could be done though - it's the same basic technology with a different transport mechanism and/or intermediary.
- bheadmaster 3y agoIt could, if you're paying everything with the card. But you always have an option to go to an ATM and pick up some untracable cash. I assume these apps don't provide such an option.
- apienx 3y agoIt’s an option…for now. In 2016, India demonetized bills as low as 500 Rupees (the equivalent of $6). People died in the ensuing chaos, and the Supreme Court just that ruled in favor of the demonetisation.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- nopinsight 3y agoI agree than tracking detailed purchase data can lead to serious discrimination and inequity especially in a dictatorship. The use case in your example, however, seems fair: * The person has a choice whether to consume fast food regularly. It’s their freedom, yes, but they should also accept the costs that come with their lifestyle choices. Similarly, if someone chooses to regularly drive at a daredevil speed, they should pay a higher premium. * This is different than discrimination based on involuntary characteristics. If someone is born with genetic predisposition to get cancer, or happens to grow up in a city with high carcinogen level, it’s arguably a lot less fair to charge them extras.
- 9991 3y agoWhy should I subsidize parents who choose to raise kids in carcinogenic cities?
- nopinsight 3y agoThe data might not be available at the time. And the person did not have a choice when they were a child. Is the above question rhetorical or do you lean more libertarian?
- ztrww 3y agoI don’t see their point much different from what you described in your comment.
- arapacana 3y agoThe hubris of this is phenomenal. People have ancestral homes in places that have become carcinogenic because of industrial activity they didn't ask for, the best job opportunities are often in places that you must go to in order for your family to have the best opportunities possible. The amount of privilege in asking this question is just shocking. As if people can so easily choose where they live. Try telling miners and nomadic construction workers that.
- bheadmaster 3y ago
- ryanjshaw 3y agoThis is already a thing, but it works the other way around. Here in South Africa, the largest private short-term health insurer gives you up to 75% cash back for 'healthy food choices' [1] i.e. they effectively reduce your premiums if you signal that you make healthier choices than other people in the fund. The law in South Africa says that short-term health insurers can't charge different people different premiums, so this is an 'add-on cashback scheme'. They integrate with 2 big supermarket chains: when you pay with a credit card issued by the insurer's banking partner, your discounts are automatically processed on a line-by-line product level. They also integrate with a fast food chain in the same way, Nandos, and give you a discount for selecting the 'healthier' food choices on the menu. [1] https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/help-healthyfood-healthycare https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/help-healthyfood-health...
- robertlagrant 3y agoVitality has spread from SA! I was over there for a few years and used them there, but now I'm back in the UK and have their life insurance.
- kilotaras 3y ago> This is already a thing, but it works the other way around. Sorry for being pedantic, but charging "bad customers" $XXX and charging everyone $XXX more, whilst giving everyone but "bad customer" $XXX back, are equivalent.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- krab 3y agoOnly if everyone participates. You'll generally have a third group of "unknown behavior customers". Then it makes a difference what the default price is.
- Ylpertnodi 3y agoBuy healthy with card. Fags, booze and McD's in cash. Or, a different card.
- hexo 3y agoOh yea, privacy nightmare! Enjoy. I'm out.
- skrebbel 3y agoHow would my insurer get access to my payment history?
- Traubenfuchs 3y agoYou will give it to them voluntarily for a massive discount. (-:
- Vinnl 3y agoOr phrased differently, you'll have to pay extra to keep it from them.
- bheadmaster 3y agoAs long as the information exists somewhere on a server, getting access to it is just a matter of politics.