Posted on 06/14/2022 10:30:18 AM PDT by EBH
Statistics Norway wants to receive several million daily receipts from food stores, signalling a new era in state data collection. Privacy advocates and the supermarkets themselves are unhappy.
People living in Norway are used to big government. But the latest news coming out of Oslo is a surprising new step down the road of data collection that not everyone is happy with.
Statistics Norway (SSB) is the state-owned entity responsible for collecting, producing and communicating statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels.
Because everything about an individual living in Norway is linked to their fødselnummer (birth number), SSB already knows where you live, what you earn and what's on your criminal record.
However, according to a report by NRK, they now want to know where you shop, and what you buy.
Data collection from supermarket transactions SSB has ordered Norway's major supermarket chains NorgesGruppen, Coop, Bunnpris and Rema 1000 to share all their receipt data with the agency. Nets, the payment processor that is responsible for 80% of transactions, will also need to provide data.
“A link between a payment transaction made with a debit card and a grocery receipt enables SSB to link a payment transaction and receipt for more than 70% of grocery purchases,” SSB said in an assessment.
Such a collection will signal a new era for SSB, as the agency now seeks to collect data from private companies and not just public registers. Given the rise in identity theft in Norway, it's no surprise that some people have concerns with the move for increased data collection.
Why is SSB doing this? SSB claims they want a less time-consuming way of collecting and analysing household consumption statistics in order to inform tax policy, social assistance and child allowance.
In 2012, thousands of Norwegian households wrote down what they bought in a paper booklet. SSB says the survey was time-consuming and error-prone. So back in 2013, discussions began on whether they could take advantage of digital tracks already left by customers.
SSB is adamant that they are only concerned with statistics at a group level: “When the purchases are linked to a household, it will be possible in the consumption statistics to analyze socio-economic and regional differences in consumption, and link it to variables such as income, education and place of residence.”
More data collection than ever before NTNU researcher Lisa Reutter is among those concerned with the trend of increased state data collection. She researches how the public sector is being digitised and is using more and more data.
“When we increase the public administration's ability to classify, predict and control citizens' behaviour using large amounts of digital data, the balance of power between citizen and state is shifted,” she said.
NorgesGruppen to appeal Both privacy advocates and the retail industry themselves are unhappy with the proposal.
Coop spokesperson Harald Kristiansen said that while Coop is positive that SSB has a basis for making good statistics, the company will nevertheless consider appealing the order.
Payment processor Nets said they share concern “about the collection and compilation of data that may be problematic and intrusive for the individual citizen.”
Data collection in supermarkets is nothing new Of course, it's only fair to point out that many of us already hand over all our purchase data to the supermarkets themselves in the form of loyalty programs.
While we get a discount, the supermarkets get access to valuable information about individual purchasing habits and group-level purchasing patterns.
However, the big difference between these loyalty programs and the SSB proposal is that supermarket loyalty programs are optional.
(Tell everyone you know. Spread the Word of the Lord far and wide, while it is still the day and we may work the fields.)
For night 🌉🌉🌉 🌃🌃🌃 is coming. When no man can work.
John 9:4
King James Version
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209%3A4&version=KJV
A favorite
Don’t let them do it Norway! Next thing you know they’ll want liquor store receipts!
“The solution is for the supermarkets to refuse to comply. “
They won’t for a variety of reasons. Norwegians are very accommodating passive people. Then there’s the fact that every company survives at the sufferance of the state. Don’t do what the state wants, they yank your business license and bolt your doors closed.
(The next step is controlling what and how much you are allowed to buy based on your “social” score.)
The next step (halfway into the coning 7 year peace deal) will be a score of 666.
Those that have it will buy and sell.
Those that don’t .... Revelation 20:4.
Too much bacon
“The Island”
Isn’t Norway supposed to be like the happiest place in the world??
Coming soon to a Socialist Market near you....
Coming soon to a Socialist Market near you....
Eventually they’ll ban cash in Europe. EU will be digital. Guess they’ll use dollars or rubles on the black market.
This is required to ration meat. Get used to it and thank the Globalists (Ukraine war supporters) when you reach your ever-shrinking limit.
Re: Lutfisk
Living in North Dakota among a HEAVILY Scandinavian population, we’re well stocked with lutfisk. Two observations.
1) if you’re getting it from a church basement served from very large batches held in steamer trays, it’s going to be disappointing, if not revolting.
2) If you’re being served from a long time lutfisk cook and devotee as part of a small family/friends meal, it can be excellent.
It’s definitely one of those dishes heavily reliant on the cooks experience, skill, and attention to detail.
all they goota is swap cards to really screw up the govt
(Eventually they’ll ban cash in Europe - ON PLANET EARTH 🌎🌍)
But you’re right. Regionally at first.
For your
Safety
Convenience
Cash is dirty, of course
No need to carry those pesky credit and debit cards
Now you’ll have more time for indoor skydiving - another precursor - works at the grocery store - all you need is your palm, your phone number and a credit card - that’s it!
1 minute video commercial
(another precursor)
Regarding the commercial, that is
Control freak government. This “information age” is a horrible thing. It naturally follows to them that if you have information, you should be able to use it to DO THINGS.
This has lead us to the over-organization and over-managing of everything. It has lead us to control freak overly invasive government.
This article on Lutefisk seems to agree with you. (eg; avoid the church mass-lutefisk feed)
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/scandinavians-strange-holiday-lutefisk-tradition-2218218/
I ALWAYS pay cash at the register. Especially the self check out.
Not only is it a privacy issue but there are just some idiots in front of you who use their EBT card and they hold up the line.
TRUE STORY:
one guy years ago said “cash back..you mean you will give me money again?”
God, the face palm at the lineup was in unison.
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