The original article says this is a joint venture between the cathedral authorities and the
junta (government) of Galicia. As the remit of the junta does not extend to other regions, I assume that the QR system of virtual
sellos only applies to those obtained in registered establishments in Galicia. So unless you are one of the large number of walkers who start in Sarria and stay only in albergues, you will need to carry a paper credential for all of the
Camino Frances before O Cebreiro. After entering Galicia long-distance pilgrims will have the choice, but after collecting physical sellos for nearly four weeks from StJPdP I anticipate that most will stick with the paper option.
On my five Caminos I seldom slept in albergues, preferring the privacy of a private room and the necessity as a cyclist to leave after dawn without being woken before 0600. My four credentials (I did not collect sellos on the VdLP in 1996) hold an eclectic mix of stamps from hotels, guest houses and restaurants plus the occasional cathedral, church, town hall or museum. None have ever been questioned by the pilgrim office. I read that the junta are opening a register so that non-albergue operators can register their participation in the virtual sello system, but unless every restaurant and café along the route can be persuaded to join, the new system will be no use to travellers like me.
It seems from the press release that the new system is being promoted with two benefits. The first (and probably the original objective) is to reduce queueing time at the pilgrim office and hanging around waiting for the issue of one's Compostela. This is laudable, but a far more effective way would be to man more of the desks in the office at busy times of day. If the original forecasts of over 500,000 pilgrims in Holy Year come to fruition something will need to be done here, but unless universal vaccination has been achieved by next summer this figure will not transpire anyway. The second benefit seems to be a rapidly scraped together proposition that by avoiding physical contact between pilgrims and hospitaleros when QR codes are photographed, there will be a public health benefit. A dubious claim.
I am not, unlike posts from many other commentators, a dinosaur opposing any technological advances. However I do think that the limited nature of this system (Galicia only and restricted to albergues) will make it almost useless to pilgrims. Unless of course they are 100km pilgrims walking only from Sarria.