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Claire Reilly writes about her commutes and other travels in Sydney, Australia while trying to avoid the excessive surveillance that arrived with the abolition of paper tickets. Australia passed invasive surveillance laws that also affect travel. It eventually emerged that authorities could search commuter card data tied to individual users, including all movement and payments.
I'm all for escaping the Orwellian nightmare of the modern surveillance state. But when you rage against the machine, you still have to associate with the bulls on parade.
All the top-up machines at train stations, light rail stops and ferry terminals were card-only affairs. One tap on that baby and you were back in the system.
So, if I was busing downtown for a work meeting, I'd have to factor in extra time to get to an ATM, get cash out and then find somewhere to top up my card. Running for the train with friends, I was the one who had to divert three blocks, change jackets, burn off my fingerprints and find a nondescript corner store to top up.
Here's what I learned.
She gave a good effort at traveling in traditional, anonymous style. Eventually, a shortfall of 9 cents made all the difference.
From CNet : How I went dark in Australia's surveillance state for 2 years
(Score: 2) by legont on Saturday March 31 2018, @12:12AM
You are, of-course, correct. There is no chance to "go dark" if they are specifically after you. Perhaps some well trained agents with support of serious organizations still can, but I doubt it.
What this strategy gives you is an ability to stay lower than most of the population. A dragnet will not get you (well, unlikely). This is important. Say somebody needs a scape goat to blame a crime on, it's not gonna be you. There are riots and authorities are putting folks into camps by thousands - again not likely you.
Common criminals use similar strategies. Yes, each one of them can be caught, but there are matters of budget and success percentages.
Finally, if/when shit hits the fan there will be a few days when it would be possible to leave quietly. That's if one is prepared, at least mentally, and below the radar most of the time. Stay low and be ready to drop everything and run on short notice. Folks like this will survive even the worst scenarios.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.