Monday 13 February 2023

From 'pink card' to screen: Experts weigh in on new digital insurance option in N.B.

 

From 'pink card' to screen: Experts weigh in on new digital insurance option in N.B.

Physical insurance cards will still be accepted in the province

According to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, New Brunswick insurers can now issue insurance cards for use on a mobile device, with the policyholder's consent, effective Feb. 1.

The electronic vehicle insurance card isn't required, and the physical copy, commonly known as a "pink card," will still be accepted.

Lyle Skinner, a New Brunswicker currently living in Ottawa and working in constitutional law, weighed in on the topic on social media.

Lyle Skinner, a New Brunswicker currently living in Ottawa and working in constitutional law, said his concern is with the language in New Brunswick’s Motor Vehicle Act around insurance cards. (Submitted by Lyle Skinner)

Skinner told CBC News that while the government did a good job outlining possible risks of only keeping a phone copy on hand, like weak cellular service or travelling out of province, there are other risks that need to be addressed.

He said his concern is with the language in New Brunswick's Motor Vehicle Act that says the vehicle's driver would need to "forthwith present and deliver" the insurance card "into the peace officer's hands, for examination in detail by the peace officer."

For Skinner, he doesn't think he will use the digital card option "because of the risks and potential misunderstandings of handing over your phone to a police officer."

Privacy risks

One of these risks, said Skinner, would be if a message or notification popped up if the screen wasn't locked. He said this could potentially cause a misunderstanding between the driver and the officer.

The New Brunswick RCMP confirmed they received a memo regarding the approval, but directed questions about the memo to the Department of Justice and Public Safety.

The department did not agree to an interview, but in an emailed statement said, "A memo was sent to all enforcement agencies stating that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles has approved the use of electronic proof of auto insurance."

 David Fraser, a privacy lawyer in Nova Scotia, said some people who go with this option might not know how to activate privacy features on their phone. (Dave Laughlin/CBC)

David Fraser, a privacy lawyer in Nova Scotia, said he thinks the authorization of the digital insurance card is a positive move by the government, and if the same thing happened in Nova Scotia, he might opt to have it as a backup.

For example, if his "pink card" was expired, the one on his phone would likely be up-to-date and could be presented as proof of insurance, said Fraser.

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles stipulates that the card must be able to be viewed on a locked screen.

But Fraser said some people who go with this option might not know how to activate privacy features like these.

"For those individuals, if they haven't set a PIN code for their phone, for example, then anytime they hand over their phone to anybody, they're handing them an unlocked phone that contains probably their banking app, certainly their email and their text messages and their social media," said Fraser.

The approval also instructs insurers that delivery and access methods of the card must minimize the potential for fraud.

Cybersecurity risk

Saqib Hakak, a computer science professor at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, said having a mobile copy is easy for the customer, but it could also increase susceptibility of social engineering attacks.

He said the person being asked for proof of their insurance would want to ensure the authenticity of who is asking for it.

During a social engineering attack, "a malicious user" could easily exploit the device by installing malware or accessing payment apps, he said.

A piece of paper titled "Registrar of Motor Vehicles | Approval of Electronic Proof of Automobile Insurance." The Registrar of Motor Vehicles approval instructs insurers that the card must be able to be viewed on a locked screen. (Hannah Rudderham/CBC)

But Hakak said there are ways to decrease these risks. With iPhones, for example, a guided access feature can be turned on in settings, which would allow the viewer to only see a specific feature or application when activated.

But despite risk controls, Hakak said, "There is nothing secure in the world.… So it doesn't matter how much security you have, there is always some residual risk."

He said as more and more things become digital, cybersecurity attacks are on the rise.

When using the technology that will allow for digital insurance cards, Hakak said the most important thing for users is to keep up-to-date on their device's latest security features.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Hannah Rudderham is a journalist with CBC New Brunswick. She grew up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and moved to Fredericton to go to St. Thomas University in 2018. She recently graduated with a bachelor of arts in journalism. You can send story tips to hannah.rudderham@cbc.ca.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
 
33 Comments
 
 
 
 
David Amos 
Methinks these lawyers should remember me. Perhaps I should remind them of a few things for the benefit of all N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
David Amos
Methinks to be fair when I ask the cops to identify him/her/they/it/or whatever they chose to cal themselves they should give me their phone my tax dollars are paying for with a digital displayed in two official languages N'esy Pas?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gary Marvel 
My Insurance company told me as soon as the cop run your plate they know if you have valid insurance, license, sticker, etc. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Gary Marvel
Of that I have no doubt






 
Rusty Shackleford 
Pay more - get less 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Rusty Shackleford  
and the gap is increasing rapidly
 
 
Chuck Michaels  
Reply to David Amos
Apple vs Android...? Have vs have-not...? Amish vs the rest of us...? I miss the old days when our one-and-only telephone was bolted to the kitchen wall and we summoned others with a spinning wheel thing.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Chuck Michaels  
I get a kick out of my new toy but I will be damned if I hand it over to a cop
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rhys Philbin  
One step at a time toward full on digital ID. No thanks. 


G. Timothy Walton 
Reply to Rhys Philbin  
Afraid to find out how unimportant to government you actually are?  
 
 
David Amos

Reply to Rhys Philbin  
I concur 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to G. Timothy Walton 
Hmmm  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rob Franklin 
My question is, why do we need this.

The old man coming out in me, but for heaven's sake, does everything have to be on the phone or accessed with a remote control these days? 

 

David Amos
Reply to Rob Franklin 
Ditto 
 
 
 
 
 
Don Corey   
I guess this is something that will appeal to those who don't seem to like paper.

I keep my insurance card with my registration, since they generally "go together". So maybe a digital registration is next? Probably.

Ok, that's fine and dandy.

But what about all the areas in this province with poor or iffy or absolutely no cellphone service?

Might be smart to make sure there's still a paper version in the vehicle.

 
William Murdoch
Reply to Don Corey
Fredericton Independent has all of this covered quite nicely. 
Chuck Gendron
Reply to Don Corey 
How hard is it to keep a copy in the vehicle, why do people need to have everything contained in their hand held device.  
 
 
Al Clark
Reply to Don Corey  
Your EV will broadcast it's legitimate paid-up registration tax to the authorities.  
 
 
Al Clark
Reply to Al Clark
. Also, your ev will not start if not authorized by the registration system .  
 
 
Al Clark
Reply to Al Clark 
Further, all fees will be automatically deducted from your digital currency vault. 
 
 
David Amos

Reply to Al Clark
YO Mr G4tr Have you checked my work and said Hey to Gaudet yet? 




Clemminne Tinne
 
 
William Murdoch
Reply to Clemminne Tinne
You mean the sticker that came in a pack of two? Why with only one plate is there a need for The Province to buy two stickers. And why is that form that comes out claiming this is not your property tax bill, your taxes of course will go up, but your bill will follow later - multi colour printing costs should be considered. More and more complications yet in the end the cost to the taxpayer just keeps climbing. 
William Murdoch
Reply to William Murdoch
Did krissy forget about that? Nope, that's why they always peel off one sticker before handing it to you lol 

Samuel Champlain  
Good idea, some will adopt it, some will not, and it will be tweaked as time passes.  
 
 
David Amos

Reply to Samuel Champlain  
Count on it
rayma allaby 
not gonna happen to my phone ...i paid a lot of money for it and i am not gonna risk it in anyone elses hands but mine.  
 
 
David Amos

Reply to rayma allaby 
I concur
 
 
 
 
 
 

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