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Amazon Go

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1247 points mangoman | 3 comments | 05 Dec 16 14:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.014s | source
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patrickg ◴[05 Dec 16 19:35 UTC] No.13108524[source]▶
Not many comments about privacy. This is how I see it: You are identified when you enter the shop and amazon knows exactly the products you buy.

If you have the choice to buy or not to buy at the shop, that's fine, it is your decision. But let's imagine that in the not so far future, all shops in your neighborhood are like this. No way to go shopping whithout given exact trace of you, your location, the stuff you buy, the time you buy, the amount of food etc.

We all know that too much data is not good for us (yes, I am looking at you, my government).

While I like the idea of not standing in a line and wait, I really wish that these shops offer a prepaid anonymous card for those who don't want to be totally tracked.

replies(4): >>13108647 #>>13108654 #>>13108774 #>>13108792 #
1. wallacoloo ◴[05 Dec 16 19:55 UTC] No.13108792[source]▶
There are a lot of social issues that a system like this might entail, in addition to privacy:

1. Not everyone has a smartphone.

2. Not everyone has an electronic account with which to pay (or for practical reasons, they can't use it frequently).

And the people that fall into those categories aren't just fringe. Parents give dollar bills to their kids & send them to the store to fetch food. People without established credit might have to use cash for purchases, etc.

replies(1): >>13109290 #
2. chipperyman573 ◴[05 Dec 16 20:41 UTC] No.13109290[source]▶
Can't people with no credit open a checking account and get a debit card? I was never askef for a credit score when opening one of those.
replies(1): >>13110025 #
3. wallacoloo ◴[05 Dec 16 21:49 UTC] No.13110025[source]▶
Probably - I don't know the procedure. I do know most people consider debit to be a less secure (for the consumer) form of payment than credit or cash though.