The rona madness in Queensland continues... So we got down to only one new case at the end of the 3-day lockdown period, and the state government relaxed the restrictions to end the lockdown, except that the whole state still needs to wear a mask for another 2 weeks!
Then the Qld government quietly updates their website on the use of its new "Check In Qld" COVID-safe app, used to make it easier and quicker when checking into cafes, restaurants, pubs, businesses and other services using QR codes for contact tracing purposes.
The Qld government have now made the use of the app MANDATORY for all hospitality businesses from May 1st...
Other Aus states have their own similar apps - NSW, WA, and the ACT.
Previously the app was optional and being promoted as a single sign-on with your personal details once, and you just scan the business's QR code and it registers you at that location at that date and time. Now all hospitality businesses MUST use the app for contact tracing. If a customer doesn't have a compatible mobile phone, or doesn't want to use the app, the business must provide alternative options for getting all their contact details (Queensland Government, 2021).
If this app were truly about the health and safety of everyone during the times of COVID, it wouldn't only be used for hospitality businesses! But then again, such a widespread system will be invasive, restrictive, and abused by the government for more than what it is intended for.
The introduction of these new state government tracing apps also shows how pathetic the Federal government's COVID-Safe app is at contact tracing, yet the government wants you to now use BOTH systems together.
The penalties for a business not using the "Check in Qld" app are severe - if a business fails to register for the app by May 1st or doesn't implement this new tracing app, they face a fine of $13,345 or a 6 month holiday in prison (ABC News, 2021).
Queensland Council for Civil Liberties are concerned by the implementation of the app and the lack of laws around the privacy of the data collected, limiting the use or access of the data (such as to police without warrants), or how long the data will be kept before being destroyed. Police in other countries using similar apps have used the data for investigative purposes, which is a huge privacy issue (ABC News, 2021). Also missing from the Qld Gov website is when will the app no longer be needed.
Will the app be used for more contact tracking and tracing at other businesses and services? Yes, the government have confirmed that the app will be used in the future for libraries, banks, SCHOOLS, cinemas, petrol stations, tourism, entertainment venues, and more (ABC News, 2021).
Is this George Orwell's 1984? Big Brother? Or the start of China's social credit system being implemented here? (Constant tracking and monitoring of everyone, facial recognition cameras and software, logging in everywhere, and monitoring and analysis of every conversation, text, email, and social media post, because the government sees you as a threat). Is this really what you want?
The "Check-in Qld" system is too easily broken if people were to not enter their true contact details into the app for privacy reasons... The more the government demand these actions over our lives, the less likely that people will abide by the "rules".
This app and other government interventions are not about improving the health and safety of the population in the alleged pandemic. It's not about health when they are ignoring the most obvious aspects of your immune system, reducing the risks of infections, and anything else that affects your health. This is about control and monitoring of everyone.
Trust not the government.
References:
ABC News. (2021) Check-in Queensland COVID app to be mandatory from May. Retrieved 1st April 2021 from https://www.abc.net.au/.../qld-covid.../100041132
Queensland Government. (2021). Check In Qld app. Retrieved 1st April 2021 from https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/check-in-qld
Then the Qld government quietly updates their website on the use of its new "Check In Qld" COVID-safe app, used to make it easier and quicker when checking into cafes, restaurants, pubs, businesses and other services using QR codes for contact tracing purposes.
The Qld government have now made the use of the app MANDATORY for all hospitality businesses from May 1st...
Other Aus states have their own similar apps - NSW, WA, and the ACT.
Previously the app was optional and being promoted as a single sign-on with your personal details once, and you just scan the business's QR code and it registers you at that location at that date and time. Now all hospitality businesses MUST use the app for contact tracing. If a customer doesn't have a compatible mobile phone, or doesn't want to use the app, the business must provide alternative options for getting all their contact details (Queensland Government, 2021).
If this app were truly about the health and safety of everyone during the times of COVID, it wouldn't only be used for hospitality businesses! But then again, such a widespread system will be invasive, restrictive, and abused by the government for more than what it is intended for.
The introduction of these new state government tracing apps also shows how pathetic the Federal government's COVID-Safe app is at contact tracing, yet the government wants you to now use BOTH systems together.
The penalties for a business not using the "Check in Qld" app are severe - if a business fails to register for the app by May 1st or doesn't implement this new tracing app, they face a fine of $13,345 or a 6 month holiday in prison (ABC News, 2021).
Queensland Council for Civil Liberties are concerned by the implementation of the app and the lack of laws around the privacy of the data collected, limiting the use or access of the data (such as to police without warrants), or how long the data will be kept before being destroyed. Police in other countries using similar apps have used the data for investigative purposes, which is a huge privacy issue (ABC News, 2021). Also missing from the Qld Gov website is when will the app no longer be needed.
Will the app be used for more contact tracking and tracing at other businesses and services? Yes, the government have confirmed that the app will be used in the future for libraries, banks, SCHOOLS, cinemas, petrol stations, tourism, entertainment venues, and more (ABC News, 2021).
Is this George Orwell's 1984? Big Brother? Or the start of China's social credit system being implemented here? (Constant tracking and monitoring of everyone, facial recognition cameras and software, logging in everywhere, and monitoring and analysis of every conversation, text, email, and social media post, because the government sees you as a threat). Is this really what you want?
The "Check-in Qld" system is too easily broken if people were to not enter their true contact details into the app for privacy reasons... The more the government demand these actions over our lives, the less likely that people will abide by the "rules".
This app and other government interventions are not about improving the health and safety of the population in the alleged pandemic. It's not about health when they are ignoring the most obvious aspects of your immune system, reducing the risks of infections, and anything else that affects your health. This is about control and monitoring of everyone.
Trust not the government.
References:
ABC News. (2021) Check-in Queensland COVID app to be mandatory from May. Retrieved 1st April 2021 from https://www.abc.net.au/.../qld-covid.../100041132
Queensland Government. (2021). Check In Qld app. Retrieved 1st April 2021 from https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/check-in-qld
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