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If they get you to use that QR code, they will get you to visit a URL and maybe show you ads, or sell your information to trackers. I mean with your tracking cookie, you visited a physical location, that's gotta be worth something.


In theory, if every QR in the building was different and they had the right sensors, they could also try to pair your browser fingerprint to your Bluetooth Mac, WiFi Mac, and your face. That pairing would have value on its own.


How is that different than a text url?


A simple short human-readable text url that a human can say and remember is not going to have a bunch of ".php?q=trackingcode&..." nonsense (though of course other trackers like cookies may still exist).

I don't know why the parent is getting downvoted...they bring a up very good point that hidden inside these QR codes are a bunch of tracking bits and the QR's ability to include tracking stuff may sadly be a significant reason why we see QRs way too much.


Both the human and the QR-encoded URL will be shortened and use a redirect to the URL with the tracking info.




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