'Big Brother' Oyster Cards Criticised

Stinging criticism of the way in which Oyster cards can be topped up through online credit card payments has been made by a technology industry expert.

Richard Stallman, who is the head of the campaigning group Free Software Foundation, said that the system's use of open source software such as Red Hat Linux meant that the credit card payments could not be made anonymously. Accordingly, details of these payments are passed on to "big brother", he suggested.

The implications of this lack of anonymity are heightened by the popularity of the Oyster card, which is used by millions of Londoners to make contactless payments for using the city's bus and train network.

Mr Stallman claimed: "Each Oyster card has a unique ID, which it transmits when it is used. So, if you make the mistake of connecting the card with your name, then Big Brother knows exactly when and where you enter the Tube system and where you leave. For the surveillance-mad government of the UK, this is like a dream come true."

The analyst made the comments in an interview with technology website ZDNet.co.uk.
 

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