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.
Yea, if you’re in a church basement, stick with the Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce and you can’t go wrong.
Which made it very easy for Quisling and Crew in 1940.
Precisely. Don't need ration cards anymore.
“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”
We at least have a choice in that matter. I choose not to participate, and I pay a premium for that, but it’s my choice.
I lol’ed at your “church basement” comment. Somehow the imagery is vivid.
” Given the rise in identity theft in Norway,
Pure coinkydink that the rise in crime is related to the rise in importing third world rapefugees.
Please explain your recent purchases of tinned sardines. Why so many?
Doing so.....
“You’ve been consuming too many calories. Your card is now restricted.”
“You bought meat, exceeding your monthly allowance. Your card is now restricted.”
“You purchased more alcohol than permitted by the number of adults / their weight in your household. Your card is now restricted.”
“You purchased items made by bigoted companies. Your card is now restricted.”
That’s why.
busting the preppers
I have been expecting this for at least ten years
That's because Norwegians have things, such as: food, clothing, shelter, heartbeats...
Once they no longer have those things, they'll be happy.
“Can I buy ten thousand marbles, please?”
“…The massive grey walls of the Temples rise from the Heart of every Federation city. I have always been awed by them, to think that every single facet of every life is regulated and directed from within! Our books, our music, our work and play are all looked after by the benevolent wisdom of the priests…”
If you have access to Netflix watch occupied to get an insight into Norwegian minds. Also Nobel.
I'll start using cash.
“So they can adjust your gov’t benefits and pension based on what you buy. Fruit and Vegas - full pay. Cigs and beer - sorry, you’re on your own.”
I worked in Norway for a few years in the seventies. A pack of cigarettes was extremely expensive even then. It is worse now. About 14 us dollars. It was most odd to watch young girls roll cigarettes in a bar. Loose tobacco was much cheaper.
I was there in 2005, working on an RCCL cruise ship. VERY expensive, beer in a bar = $10, pair of good but non-designer jeans $100, ordinary business shirt $60. My impression was that minimum wage was about $25 at the time. Still.
These Norwegian socialists are very anal.
You’d never know that these submissive people were descended from fierce Vikings.
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