Chinese cities requiring real-name registration for public transport

An increasing number of cities around China are requiring commuters to register their identities when using public transport, as the country ramps up efforts to contain the spread of a deadly new flu-like virus.

Why it matters: Real-name registration was previously used for transport between cities. Its expansion to intracity transport is an attempt to track the possible spread of the virus.

• Nevertheless, such systems enable the government to keep a closer eye on the movements of the country’s citizens, with people voicing concerns that such measures could become permanent.
• The virus, dubbed Covid-19, was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December and has subsequently spread across the country, killing more than 2,200 people.

Details: Commuters in the southern city of Shenzhen and east China’s Ningbo are required to log their identities by scanning a QR code before boarding various kinds of public transport.

• The system employed in both cities is developed by Tencent and is available through popular messaging app WeChat.
• Lifestyle services company Meituan-Dianping has developed a similar platform for transport authorities in Shenyang, capital of northeastern China’s Liaoning province, TechNode reported earlier this month.
• In Shenzhen, commuters taking a bus or hailing a taxi will need to scan a QR code on the vehicle in order to log their trip.
• Meanwhile, in Ningbo, commuters will be required to use the platform when taking the subway.
• The first time a user scans one of the codes they will be prompted to confirm their identification details before continuing with their trip.
• The system also provides warning messages via SMS and WeChat to people who have traveled with someone suspected of being infected.
• If a passenger is not carrying a mobile phone they will need to complete the process manually by contacting transportation staff or their taxi driver.
• Collected data are minimal and kept encrypted, Tencent said.

Context: Cities around China have taken stringent measures to curb the spread of the virus while still allowing public transport to run. Transportation in the worst-affected areas has been shut down.

• Subways around the country have been checking passengers’ body temperatures to stop the spread of the disease.