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> No one is forced to adopt technology they don't like. No. * None of the privately-owned car parks I know of take cash. * The UK government is moving to com

> No one is forced to adopt technology they don't like. No. * None of the privately-owned car parks I know of take cash. * The UK government is moving to compulsory electronic filing for small businesses. * The managing agent used by my landlord has decided that paper contracts are no longer acceptable. I can walk everywhere. I can close my business. I can live under a hedge. But realistically, I am forced to use technology which was not designed with my interests in mind.

Fauntleroy 3y ago
In addition, pretty much any new car you buy these days will spy on you by default. Along with any other Internet-connected services you use either directly or unintentionally by proxy. (...and before someone argues, "you could just buy an old, non-spying car", you'll only be able to do that for so long. And pretty much never with a new vehicle.)
thombles 3y ago
Smartphones are much less optional now too. To log in to government webapps I need to use a mobile app (https://www.mygovid.gov.au/ https://www.mygovid.gov.au/) which is (naturally) only available via App Store/Play Store, which implies I need an Apple or Android and have an account open and in good standing with either Apple or Google respectively. Then there's MFA - every week on this site you'll read how using anything less than app-based MFA is reckless.
- MrVandemar 3y ago
  Yeah, AU resident here and my phone (the cheapest possible thing I could buy at the time) is "too old" (less than 5 years!) to run the mygovid app (it barely ran the Covid login one), and I do really feel the squeeze from many directions to upgrade my phone. I'm also rural, and I feel like this push is being largely driven by people who can regularly afford new phones and upgrade to the latest thing, and who live in cities with excellent reception.
  - xyzzy123 3y ago
    A major part of this in computing is security standards - old browsers and phones don't have encryption / controls that meet modern standards, plus manufacturers stop supporting the OS or providing patches. The people operating mygovid & other identity apps would like the widest device support possible but to some extent their hands are tied by compliance requirements and what their security auditors tell them.
  - antongribok 3y ago
    I live in the city with excellent reception and it takes me less than a day to make enough money to afford the latest flagship phone, yet I hate being forced to upgrade my phone. I like my current S10+ which is 3.5 years old, and the fact that it's no longer on the latest Android version is completely ridiculous. I don't even know what I can upgrade to if I want to keep using my microSD card and my wired headset.

Fauntleroy 3y ago

In addition, pretty much any new car you buy these days will spy on you by default. Along with any other Internet-connected services you use either directly or unintentionally by proxy. (...and before someone argues, "you could just buy an old, non-spying car", you'll only be able to do that for so long. And pretty much never with a new vehicle.)

thombles 3y ago

Smartphones are much less optional now too. To log in to government webapps I need to use a mobile app (https://www.mygovid.gov.au/ https://www.mygovid.gov.au/) which is (naturally) only available via App Store/Play Store, which implies I need an Apple or Android and have an account open and in good standing with either Apple or Google respectively. Then there's MFA - every week on this site you'll read how using anything less than app-based MFA is reckless.

MrVandemar 3y ago
Yeah, AU resident here and my phone (the cheapest possible thing I could buy at the time) is "too old" (less than 5 years!) to run the mygovid app (it barely ran the Covid login one), and I do really feel the squeeze from many directions to upgrade my phone. I'm also rural, and I feel like this push is being largely driven by people who can regularly afford new phones and upgrade to the latest thing, and who live in cities with excellent reception.
- xyzzy123 3y ago
  A major part of this in computing is security standards - old browsers and phones don't have encryption / controls that meet modern standards, plus manufacturers stop supporting the OS or providing patches. The people operating mygovid & other identity apps would like the widest device support possible but to some extent their hands are tied by compliance requirements and what their security auditors tell them.
- antongribok 3y ago
  I live in the city with excellent reception and it takes me less than a day to make enough money to afford the latest flagship phone, yet I hate being forced to upgrade my phone. I like my current S10+ which is 3.5 years old, and the fact that it's no longer on the latest Android version is completely ridiculous. I don't even know what I can upgrade to if I want to keep using my microSD card and my wired headset.