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Today's Topics:
1. RFI: Opening an account with Google without a phone-camera
(Roger Clarke)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:32:00 +1100
From: Roger Clarke <[email protected]>
To: link <[email protected]>
Subject: [LINK] RFI: Opening an account with Google without a
phone-camera
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Despite my preference to avoid Google, I'm of course trapped into a few
instances, such as Scholar.
I have a small number of single-use accounts.
I'm trying to set up a Scholar account.
A new feature is that its setup process demands capture of a QR code.
In the past, there's been a '*Try another way*' link visible.
I know that, because I've been here before.
But also because Google's Help page says so:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/9283368?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&sjid=12035250823593856350-NC
*No such link appears in the window*. See this screengrab:
http://rogerclarke.com/SOS/Google-AcSetup-260215.png
There appears to be no recourse to a human being.
*Any thoughts on how a non-compliant desktop/laptop user can play*
would be very much appreciated.
Aside:
When I did some work on CovidUnsafe apps in 2020, I looked at the extent
to which people had a device with them at the time that could perform
the necessary functions (Battery, Bluetooth, On):
https://www.rogerclarke.com/EC/EBPA.html
> Effectiveness Factors
...
> 4 The proportions of the relevant population that possess mobile devices
> For a variety of reasons, many people do not possess mobile devices.
Australia's population is about 25m. Of the active population of 19m,
90% carry mobile devices, of which about 55% are iPhone/iOS and 45% are
Android devices.
> *So 10% of the active population (2m people) don't have a mobile*.
> In addition, it's likely that, for a number of social and economic
reasons, a significant proportion of those who don't have one are among
the most vulnerable populations, such as the over-70s, people with
relevant prior health conditions, the institutionalised, people in lower
socio-economic segments, and street-livers
> 5 The proportions of the relevant population that possess mobile
devices that are capable of performing the function
... [*Some mobile devices can't read the QR-code*] ...
___________________
Roger Clarke mailto:[email protected]
T: +61 2 6288 6916 http://www.xamax.com.au http://www.rogerclarke.com
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
Visiting Professorial Fellow UNSW Law & Justice
Visiting Professor in Computer Science Australian National University
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