According to the report, as of August 2022, nearly half of the consumers interviewed hoped that offline catering services could improve "information security". Code-scanning ordering has almost become a standard feature in restaurants. This is an important sign of digital upgrading for restaurants, but consumers are dissatisfied with the mandatory code-scanning ordering by some restaurants, as well as the mandatory following and uploading of personal information after code-scanning, especially for fear of information leakage.
Report: Improvement of information security issues accounted for a high proportion
The report shows that in the column of "what aspects of the current offline catering service in Beijing can still be improved", the cost-effective, information security, category richness, and the speed of serving the food are in the forefront of the problem. Among them, 46.22% of consumers hope that Beijing's offline catering service can be further optimized in terms of information security.
The main reason why offline dining can be linked to information security is the "code ordering" form of ordering. From a number of restaurants can be seen, the table will be affixed with the logo of the scanning code ordering, consumers only need to use their cell phones to scan the two-dimensional code can be through the online order.
However, this convenient form has triggered some controversy. Beijing Business News interviewed a number of consumers learned that some consumers will encounter the need to pay attention to the restaurant's public number, or upload nicknames, birthdays, cell phone numbers and other personal information to enter the ordering page of the situation, some consumers believe that there are certain information security risks of this kind of operation.
"Nowadays, many restaurants need to pay attention to the public number or register as a member to upload information before they can order food after entering the code-sweeping ordering page." A "post-90s" consumer told reporters that, on the one hand, it is doubtful whether this information upload will be leaked, and on the other hand, if you don't delete it voluntarily after paying attention to it, the business will keep pushing relevant ads.
In addition, there are some consumers who encountered the situation of "forced" code ordering. In the process of interviews with consumers, in the small two mouth barbecue Northeast cuisine, Nanyang Tea Room and other restaurants, dining, to the waiter to ask for the menu was told that there is no paper menu, you can only scan the code to order food.
Business: digital upgrading is the original intention
In the face of the consumer side of the doubts and feedback on information security, the Beijing Business News reporter also interviewed a number of catering enterprises responsible for their business, the original intention of the enterprise is only to improve operational efficiency and consumer experience.
The report shows that with the development of digital intelligence, changes in the consumer environment, more and more catering enterprises have begun to join the ranks of digitalization. Whether it's code-sweeping ordering, delivery robots or AI dish analysis systems, etc., what seems to be a tricky move is actually strong evidence that catering companies are striving to move forward into the digital era. According to data, the topic #costs are skyrocketing, forcing enterprises to digitally transform has reached 924,000 readers.
A catering brand responsible person told Beijing Business Daily that online ordering further reduces costs through digital operation, and is also an important entrance for catering companies to collect user data. Through the data can be more accurate understanding of changes in consumer demand, for enterprises in the product line adjustment to provide data support, so as to enhance the consumer experience. When it comes to the "mandatory" provision of personal information, the person in charge of the above brand explained that: now provide the third-party platform for code ordering technology can be set up options, even if you do not pay attention to or submit the information can also be successfully ordered.
In the view of industry insiders, the crux of the problem of consumer information security about offline ordering lies in whether the information provided is highly protected. On the one hand, after uploading personal information whether the information is leaked, on the other hand, "into the network type" offline dining will always leave traces, whether there is a security risk. These are questions that need to be addressed as the industry continues to evolve.
The Consumer Council has written that some restaurants no longer provide manual ordering, requiring on-site consumers to pay attention to the public number or small program, and then scan the code to order, so as to obtain the consumer's personal information, which is not only a violation of the law of the principle of lawfulness, legitimacy, and necessity of collecting and using personal information, but also suspected of excessive collection of personal information of the consumer. Moreover, if not properly stored, there is a risk that consumers' personal information will be leaked or lost. Operators can use new technologies to improve operational efficiency and provide convenience to consumers, but they should first comply with the law and safeguard consumers' rights and interests. The application of new technologies should not become a tool to limit the rights of consumers, should not become an excuse to seize consumers' personal information, and should not become a barrier to public consumption.
Lawyer: can not be excessive collection of consumer information
About the current many restaurant businesses require customers to sweep the code to order, in the process of sweeping the code to order to collect consumers WeChat nicknames, location information and avatars and other information, and some will even collect cell phone numbers, birthdays, address books and other information. In this regard, Beijing Zhongtong Law Firm lawyer Li Li believes that, in accordance with the public's traditional consumption habits, it is entirely possible to complete the consumption without providing any personal information through oral ordering.
Li Li emphasized that the WeChat nickname, location information, gender, avatar, cell phone number, birthday, address book, etc. that need to be authorized by the customer in the code-sweeping ordering method are all unrelated to the food and beverage consumption of information, and consumers face the problem of not being able to order food without the authorization of the provision of the information mentioned above, which is to a large extent the completion of the authorization of the consent of the passive.
According to Article 6 of the Personal Information Protection Law, the collection of personal information shall be limited to the minimum extent necessary to fulfill the purpose of the processing, and shall not be excessive. The principle of lawfulness, legitimacy and necessity shall be followed in the handling of personal information, and excessive handling shall not be allowed.
Li Li suggests that catering businesses should not over-collect consumers' personal information, and that businesses should not disclose or tamper with the personal information they have obtained; they should not illegally provide their personal information to others without the consent of the natural person. Merchants should take technical measures and other necessary measures to ensure the security of the personal information they collect and store, and to prevent the leakage, tampering and loss of information.
Li Li further emphasized that where leakage, tampering or loss of personal information occurs or is likely to occur, remedial measures should be taken in a timely manner, and the natural person should be informed in accordance with the provisions of the law and reported to the relevant authorities. For consumers, dining out can say no to the merchants' code-sweeping ordering requirements, and always pay attention to protect their legitimate rights and interests.
Beijing Business Herald reporter Guo Binlu Zhang Tianyuan