An Australian man has been arrested after allegedly placing fake QR codes over official COVID-19 check-in signs in South Plympton, Adelaide.
Man Arrested for Fake QR Codes
When customers used their smartphones to check-in and place their information for COVID-19 tracking, they were instead directed to an anti-vaccination website, according to BBC.
The Australian man, 51-year-old Colin Mark Davies, has been charged with two counts of obstructing operations related to COVID-19. In Australia, anyone found tampering with COVID-19 QR codes faces arrest and a penalty of up to $10,000.
The country operates a similar system to that of the United Kingdom's Test and Trace scheme, which asks customers to check in to venues, so they can be notified if they come into close contact with COVID-19 patients, as per 9News.
Also Read: Aussie Anti-Vaxxers That Will Refuse COVID-19 Vaccine Could be Banned From Traveling Internationally
Getting his Message Out
Davis stated that he has since been released on bail on the condition that he does not carry any loose QR labels. He must return to court in July to be sentenced.
His lawyer said he wanted to get his message out to the public.
Davis has also been charged with possessing a prohibited weapon after police searched his home and found a double-sided knife. South Australian Police confirmed that no personal data had been breached during the incident.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a lot of pubs and restaurants moved to install QR code systems in their respective establishments.
QR code systems can hold a massive amount of data compared to standard barcodes, reaching up to 2,500 numeric characters, compared to a barcode's 43.
That means useful information, including the user's name, location, and website addresses, can all be reliably and held in one small box without having to spend too much.
Australia's Anti-Vaxx
Anti-vaccination protesters have gathered across Australia due to the launch of the country's coronavirus inoculation program.
Numerous protests were held in different cities including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, with participants saying that since it is their body, it should be their choice if they want to get vaccinated.
The rallies were peaceful, but the police made several arrests in Melbourne as some protesters clashed with the police, who were forced to use pepper spray and made several arrests. The police said that 15 people received penalty notices for breaching its COVID-19 laws.
Five others were charged for resisting arrest, hindering police and refusing to give details, according to ABC News.
The rallies were joined by a few thousand people all in all.
Former Australian celebrity chef Pete Evan, who has been banned from Instagram and Facebook for repeatedly sharing misinformation about coronavirus, was one of the people who spoke at the rally in Sydney back in February while protesters held signs denouncing the vaccine rollout.
The COVID-19 vaccine shots in Australia are free, but it is not mandatory for the citizens to have them.
The national rollout of the Pfizer vaccine began on February. Australia's medical regulator also granted provisional approval for the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, which was rolled out in March.
Both of the vaccines have undergone extensive safety checks and are already being used in several countries.
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Written by Sophie Webster
