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QR codes for restaurant menus: threat or menace?
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TimFox:
Recently, supposedly to reduce contagion through infected paper menus, restaurants are adopting QR code systems for menu listings and ordering.
An interesting article about how this tracks you, the consumer, in today's NY Times business section:  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/technology/qr-codes-tracking.html
ataradov:
The article is paywalled.

I use a standalone QR code recognition app and always check the link. The places I go to with QR code menus just have the link to the same menu they already have online with no additional tracking stuff added to the URL. But they also have an option for a paper menu, you just need to ask for it.

So, I guess if you care and don't want to encourage this behaviour,  don't visit sketchy links and use publicly available menu.
TimFox:
Here is a link to a different source that quotes the NY Times article:  https://www.laptopmag.com/news/restaurant-menu-qr-codes-may-be-tracking-you-and-invading-your-privacy-heres-how
Incidentally, when I clicked on the NY Times article, it came up along with a solicitation for subscription, but gave the full text of the article.
ataradov:
It offered a free trial, but you needed to register with email. And NYT will not get my email.


--- Quote ---The New York Times noted that Mr. Yum, startup that sells the tech for creating QR-code menus to restaurants, admitted that the digital menu contains cookies that track customers' purchase history as well as their phone number and protected payment information.
--- End quote ---

I'm not sure how that is possible. I can see how the link may include some tracking info, but nothing to that extent.  If it asks you to install some app, that place can eff right off.
TimFox:
I once had to make a special request of the waiter to go fetch a printed menu (which he found in the basement), since I do not carry a smartphone with me.
Had he refused, I would have left the restaurant.
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