Electronic vehicle insurance cards can now be used as proof of insurance in New Brunswick, but the announcement sparked debate on social media about the pros and cons of the new option.
According to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, New Brunswick insurers can now issue insurance cards for use on a mobile device, with policyholder consent, effective February 1.
The Electronic Motor Insurance Card is not required and the physical copy, commonly known as the “pink card”, is still accepted.
Lyle Skinner, a New Brunswicker who currently lives in Ottawa and works in constitutional law, has spoken out on social media on the issue.
Skinner told CBC News that while the government has done a good job of identifying potential risks of only having a copy of the phone on hand, such as weak cellular service or out-of-province travel, there are other risks that need to be addressed.
He said his concern is the language in the New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act, which states that the driver of the vehicle must present the insurance card “promptly and deliver it into the hands of the peace officer for the peace officer to examine in detail.”
Skinner doesn’t think he’ll use the digital card option “due to the risks and potential misunderstandings of handing your phone over to a police officer.”
Privacy Risks
One of those risks, Skinner said, would be if a message or notification pops up when the screen isn’t locked. He said this could potentially cause misunderstandings between the driver and the officer.
The New Brunswick RCMP confirmed that they received a memo regarding the permit, but have directed questions about the memo to the Department of Justice and Public Safety.
The department did not agree to an interview, but said in an emailed statement: “A note has been sent to all law enforcement agencies stating that the Motor Vehicle Register has authorized the use of electronic proof of car insurance.”
David Fraser, a privacy attorney in Nova Scotia, said he thinks authorizing the digital insurance card is a positive move by the government and if the same thing happened in Nova Scotia, he might choose to have it as a backup.
For example, if his “pink card” had expired, the one on his phone would likely be current and could be presented as proof of insurance, Fraser said.
The motor vehicle register stipulates that the card must be viewable on a locked screen.
However, Fraser said some people who choose this option may not know how to enable privacy features like this.
“For example, if these people haven’t set a PIN code for their phone, every time they give their phone to someone, they’re certainly giving them their email and text messages, an unlocked phone that probably contains their banking app.” and their social media,” Fraser said.
The approval also directs insurers that card delivery and access methods must minimize the potential for fraud.
cybersecurity risk
Saqib Hakak, a computer science professor at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, said a mobile copy is easy for the customer but could also increase vulnerability to social engineering attacks.
He said the person asked for proof of insurance wants to ensure the authenticity of whoever 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.
But Hakak said there are ways to reduce those risks. For example, on iPhones, a guided access feature can be enabled in the settings, which would allow the viewer to only see a specific feature or application when enabled.
But despite risk controls, Hakak said: “There is nothing safe in the world. … So it doesn’t matter how much security you have, there is always some residual risk.”
He said as more things go digital, cybersecurity attacks are on the rise.
According to Hakak, when using the technology that enables digital insurance cards, the most important thing for users is to stay up to date with the latest security features of their device.
