Boycott PRESTO

#boycottPRESTO

An oldie but a goodie — back in 2018 I wrote:

”Police use Presto data without a warrant. Immigration used to deport immigrants via Vancouver transit data. Now the official story is that they don't--I don't know the story here in Toronto.

Fare inspectors apparently sometimes ask women out using presto information. It's impossible to pay with a $5 bill on the new streetcars, where cash payment is slower for the rider and, when there is a delay to use a machine, you may be ID'ed and accused of fraud, detained while travelling. An unregistered card can still identify people via network analysis etc. Please pay cash generally so it remains an option in society, and especially don't let the Toronto Transit Commission transition to a presto-only system. Once presto is the only option Metrolinx's leverage increases and the above is just what I've heard of so far.

[In both the case where I was detained despite trying to pay, and where you can't pay with a $5 bill, Metrolinx values our data more than our money--because in the long run the data will be worth more, but that data belongs to we the people, like transit infrastructure itself, which could be far more anonymous even if it weren't free at the point of use (google: universal basic services), which would eliminate all ID checks anyway...]

[They also value our data above our money in the example of children 6-12 being required to present a presto card to enter a station when previously they could ride without one--no payment is required for their age so what is the point of making them use a card? To collect data, but our data should be under a form of democratic control which is more direct, after all--https://www.facebook.com/adamgolding/posts/10106131679592022 ]
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adamgolding.ca