China is giving everyone a personal postcode so delivery drones can find them
The codes will make automated deliveries cheaper and easier as China contends with an aging population
Part of the push for the new codes comes from the fact that they’re easier for machines to interpret, according to Beijing Youth Daily. The digits can also be represented by QR codes, a popular way of transmitting information in China. The ease of use means it could cut costs for delivery companies, whose customers are increasingly turning to ecommerce.
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For delivery companies, though, automated vehicle and drone deliveries remain a dream. The technology has been difficult to implement, with pinpointing precise locations for delivery being one of the technical challenges.
As convenient as it seems, the new scheme also has some worried about privacy. The State Post Bureau said at the July seminar that the Personal Address ID database is a “public information platform” because “data resources are national resources.” Beijing Youth Daily also reported that the system would be able to be shared among delivery companies.
Chinese netizens weren’t thrilled about the news. People expressing concern on Weibo cited personal data leaks, which are common in the country.
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