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Sweden is a nearly cashless society NAD that affects people who are left out (theconversation.com)
6 points by YeGoblynQueenne 17 days ago | hide | past | favorite | 5 comments



>A Ukrainian refugee, who can’t get a bank account because of their migration status, worried about a bill from the local health clinic that they had no technical means of paying.

>Homeless people who sleep in cars can’t use the cashless parking meters,...

I'm pretty critical of cashless myself. But by EU law banks are required to offer banking to anyone (a full featured bank account with digital payment cards that is). Homeless people, refugees - all included.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/financial-pr...


>But by EU law banks are required to offer banking to anyone (a full featured bank account with digital payment cards that is)

And the homeless will do what? Find a short unofficial gig paying via card transfer? Beg via POS?


I think you'll find that, ethical or not, "makes begging harder" is considered a feature rather than a bug of a cashless society. That's going to be doubly true in a country like Sweden that has a minuscule homelessness rate.


>makes begging harder" is considered a feature rather than a bug of a cashless society

I'm sure it is. Just like "allows for total surveillance and control" is

>That's going to be doubly true in a country like Sweden that has a minuscule homelessness rate.

Give it time


At this point I'm aware of just how much of a bubble places like this are, to the extent that widespread advocacy for privacy is seen as the work of kooks in the general populace beyond these digital walls. I'm not saying that you're wrong, but I am saying that at some point it's time to fight a battle you have a hope of winning, or at least influencing. We don't need a surveillance society when most people are happy to broadcast the minutiae of their daily lives online, and carry cell-phones.




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