[Adolph_Jobs]

<token dude posting about privacy issues>

This is amazing in terms of ease-of-use. However, the privacy implications are a bit worrying...

I don't really want to rubbish this, I hate the naysayers when something disruptive comes around (note that Japan rolled out pay-by-cellphone on their subway systems something like 10 years ago) but...

"She saw my name and photo on her iPad, tapped it, and I was done. A receipt was sent to my phone."

So all employees at stores using Card Case can see the name, identity and photo of every single person using card case within a 100 foot radius of the store. Completely regardless of whether they want to buy something or enter the store. What if you don't want random stores to know when you walk past? What if your abusive ex-husband is working at a store and sees your name come up on the list.. etc.

Additionally, if you use the app, Square knows exactly where you are at all times. I'm not at all comfortable with that. Apple had a massive scandal when it was revealed that it's technically possible to retrieve location history from iOS. This is legit human tracking - police and three letter agencies everywhere are probably throwing parties right now.

HN was up in arms when retail giant Westfield was tracking number plates entering their car park. Just number plates.

</token dude posting about privacy issues>

[wvl]

You saw the 100 foot radius bit, but ignore the sentence before. It's an opt-in solution -- If you don't want it, don't opt in.

First, you need to turn on auto-payments for each individual store where you’d like to use it—it’s impossible to tell Card Case to turn on auto-payments for every store in San Francisco.

[oasisbob]

Additionally, if you use the app, Square knows exactly where you are at all times.

That's absolutely not true, at least not on iOS. As mentioned in the article, Square is using the iOS geofencing APIs to wake the app when you enter a favorite area. The app isn't running in the background all the time.

Also, as mentioned in the article, you can turn this feature off and manually toggle the tab.

[notatoad]

the privacy issues are negated by it being totally opt in. the other examples in your post are silent, unauthorized tracking. obviously there are privacy concerns with a system like this, but if that is something that worries you, you can control it.

[jerfelix]

I still would like to be able to buy coffee without having to announce my real name out loud to everyone around me.

Cash provides me that privacy. Heck, credit cards even keep the transaction between me and the merchant.

[Karunamon]

Oh for crying out loud...

I understand the privacy concerns, but this isn't a secret agent movie. I'm reminded of that scene from Jurassic Park..

Nedry: Ooh! Dodgson! he sits down Dodgson: You shouldn't use my name. Nedry: (loudly) Dodgson! Dodgson! We have Dodgson here! Nedry: Nobody cares. Nice hat. Trying to look like a secret agent?

[jerfelix]

I can think of several reasons besides being a secret agent that I wouldn't want my name announced.

Say I am meeting someone that I wouldn't want to normally be associated with - whether it's for a job interview or a personal meeting.

Or say I plan to pick up a Playboy magazine at the same counter.

Or say I'm a cute woman, and I prefer not to be stalked.

Or say I don't want that sales guy over there to come up to me and pretend to know me.

Or say I was just overheard saying that my kids are all alone at home.

Or say I just got out of an expensive car.

Or say I was having a bad day and complained loudly.

Or say I farted.

Or ...

I could go on and on.

[jerfelix]

OK so I don't announce my name. Maybe I can just hand the clerk a card with my name on it.

Perhaps a credit card.

[Karunamon]

Then don't "announce" your name. You're telling the cashier your name for payment purposes, not alerting everybody in $store to your presence.

[notatoad]

yes. so if you like that privacy, don't this system. some people don't mind telling the people at their coffee shop what their name is, and they can use this.

[dredmorbius]

No, the privacy issues aren't negated.

If you opt in, you have no privacy.

And if this does become ubiquitous (I suspect it won't, but that's just me), opting out will be painful. Very painful.

No thanks.

[adamjernst]

Opt in per store.

[dredmorbius]

This also predicates having location disclosure enabled on your mobile device.

Thanks, but no.