They're the chequered boxes that have popped up at businesses across the state.
The QR (quick response) codes that patrons scan and enter their personal details in order to grab a bite to eat or a beer at the pub.
Since yesterday, electronic check-in systems have been mandatory in venues across NSW — but it's already causing confusion among consumers.
The ABC has been inundated with questions from people concerned they'll be "locked out" their favourite cafe or pub if they don't have a mobile phone.
So what does the new system involve and how does it work?
Checking into venues — what's changed?
Venues are now required to digitally record names and contact details of customers who visit their premises.
The change came into effect on November 23 but NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian first broached the idea in October.
It followed instances where venues did not keep proper records of their patrons — an issue discovered only after they had a positive COVID-19 case.
Prior to this, venues were able to record customer contact details using pen and paper.
A Service NSW spokesperson says digital check-in systems are contactless and safer to use, and allow NSW Health to respond faster to COVID-19 outbreaks.
"If tracing teams are not able to obtain reliable information, people are unknowingly placed at risk and the virus can continue to spread throughout the community," its website says.
Along with being safer, electronic check-in is generally more accurate than pen and paper. Handwriting can be difficult to read and the information needs to be turned into electronic format for contact tracing anyway, so it makes sense.
Which businesses must use electronic check-in?
Here are some of the venues that now require patrons to check in:
- Amusement centres
- Aquariums
- Auction houses
- Nail, beauty, tanning, and waxing salons, spas, hairdressers, tattoo and massage parlours
- Funeral homes and crematoria
- Drive-in cinemas
- Entertainment facilities
- Hospitality venues, including casinos, food and drink premises
- Pubs, small bars and registered clubs (customer collecting takeaway are exempt)
- Function centres
- Party buses
- Public swimming pools
- Sex services and strip clubs
- Zoos
Do I need a mobile phone to get in?
The short answer is no. You don't need a phone in order to visit these businesses.
This will come as welcome news for some older people who have expressed concerns the system is discriminatory.
A Service NSW spokesperson says businesses are required to provide alternative methods of digitally recording the details of customers who don't have a smartphone.
"This might include completing an online form on a tablet or other device, or entering your details into an Excel spreadsheet."
As long as it's done digitally, it's fine.
What happens to my data?
Many electronic check-ins are outsourced to registration platforms that are often owned by companies that deal in collecting data.
Some of these operate under opaque rules about how that information is stored and used.
Digital privacy advocates say it's often unclear what happens to the collected data and that some private companies may be vacuuming up huge numbers of names, emails and phone numbers.
There are concerns data could potentially be resold, used for identity fraud or to track a person's location and social groups, and employed in micro-targeted advertising for misinformation campaigns.
This is why Service NSW "strongly" encourages businesses to use the NSW Government QR code Check In, which customers can access via the Service NSW app.
It says under this system people's contact information is securely stored and destroyed after 28 days.
The data can also only be accessed by NSW Health for contact tracing purposes.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTExLTI0L25zdy1uZXctbWFuZGF0b3J5LXFyLWNvZGVzLWNvbnN1bWVycy8xMjkxMjE1ONIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjkxMjE1OA?oc=5
2020-11-23 18:23:00Z
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