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The whole idea about BP checking on my number plates fills me with dread. Does this mean that the whole data protection act is a waste of time. If BP or any private company has acccess to my insurance details or to information held by the government surely somebody where is in breach of this law.



I don't know how the system there works (and it's the first I've heard of it) but most likely the BP stations are sending the licence plate no, and only getting a "yes" or "no" answer, not specific details. EFTPOS works the same way... it sends a request for X amount of money to be transferred to the vendor's account, and either gets a yes or no response. The vendor can't get your account details, balance etc.

That's not to say that if you drove away without paying they then couldn't press a "stole petrol" button which'd report your license plate to police who'd then get access to the rest of your information, but that then is legitimate use.

Matt Electronic mods for TBA/SM!