Subscribe now

Letter: Getting rid of small change is a step to surveillance

Published 29 May 2019

From Hillary J. Shaw, Newport, Shropshire, UK

You mark the UK down for keeping small coins that may carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria (11 May, p 21). But this is a step towards a cashless society. This would harm older people, poor people and those without bank accounts and would move us closer to total state-monitoring of our transactions, with the potential for forced arbitrary taxation.

Issue no. 3232 published 1 June 2019

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop