The Government Accountability Office has released a study providing an overview of RFID technology, discussing security, and privacy issues. Not surprinsingly, it has found that:
The use of tags and databases raises important security considerations related to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data on the tags, in the databases, and in how this information is being protected. (…)Key privacy concerns include notifying individuals of the existence or use of the technology; tracking an individual’s movements; profiling an individual’s habits, tastes, or predilections; and allowing for secondary uses of the information.
[beSpacific]
June 24th, 2005 at 10:26 am
I am very concerned about privacy issues surrounding RFID technology. Recently I purchased an RFID reader from ebay and after a few days of tinkering I was able to get it to work in conjunction with my laptop. I then concealed my laptop and the reader and took it to Wal Mart where I was easily able to scan products containing RFID chips and read the information imbedded in them. Most of it was fairly innocuous and included such information as item name and lot number, as well as various numerical codes which I could not decipher their meaning. It was a fairly simple process to get this information from RFID chips. About a week ago I ordered a credit card from Chase and am waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I am fairly confident I will be able to read the information on the card although I may need a different RFID reader and software in order to do so. After seeing how easy it is to read RFID chips I have decided to destroy all RFID chips contained on anything I own such as a future drivers license containing such info because it could be serruptiously scanned by government agencies to determine who was at a peace rally, gun show, etc. Credit cards imbedded with RFID chips also pose obvious risks.
June 25th, 2005 at 12:55 pm
Thanks for this comment! It’s very disconcerting to realize that we could possibly be watched or monitored anywhere! It’s even more disconcerting that some libraries, by placing these chips in books, are playing right into the hands of government officials that could use this technology to find out what our patrons are reading. Who needs the PATRIOT Act when you can simply scan patrons as they leave the library.
June 28th, 2005 at 2:28 am
This is the kind of RFID cheerleading that really scares me:
June 26
Citizen ID cards - Pure Simplicity
It’s a simple solution that every country could use to lessen the complexity of life. Image a single card, issued to you at birth, and linked to a central global database. A Citizen Card, BIO-Metrically linked to the holders DNA to avoid counterfeit, and allow for simple quick replacement in the event of loss. This card would have a RFID and Smart Chip and a holographic front fascia. Mounted on an aluminum card stock like a credit card. It would be the ultimate ID card
Birth Certificate, Drivers License, Passport, Health Card, Social Insurance Card, Education Card, Security Clearance, Press Card, Professional Credentials and all other possible government ID’s and Credentials all rolled into one simple card.
Banking, Credit, communications and so forth would be separate from the Citizen card system. After all, big brother doesn’t need to know what your buying or what videos your renting, and vice versa.
I think this technology would be a wonderful method of making government smaller and life simpler.
Scenario:
Your in a Traffic Accident, a civil protection officer comes to the scene and rescues you from your vehicle, your unconscious. With the help of his Rugged Civil Protection Tablet PC he passes your ID over the scanner and it gives your Drivers License Class, whole driving record, car registration, criminal record and all details relevant for civil protection. Nothing un-needed is provided. The Medical team arrives on scene, they take your same card and swipe it over their Medical Tablet PC, They are giving access to your medical history, known medical conditions and ailments, allergies to medication, Next of Kin, etc. But for them, they again only see what information they need to do your job, so they don’t see any of the information that the officer saw. Everywhere, that ID is Swiped, only the information that is required would be retrieved and shown.
In conclusion, I believe that this Citizen ID system would make life revolutionary.
http://spaces.msn.com/members/Neocell21/Blog/cns!1pNlqRHwUSH_7Krnc9v1YpKQ!171.entry
June 30th, 2005 at 5:53 pm
Didn’t the holocaust begin with making sure all “citizens” had the correct papers? Weren’t those same “papers” used to discriminate and eventually
“eradicate” certain groups. I am not so sure that I want to be identified and tracked in my daily life.
July 15th, 2005 at 11:41 am
Please keep in touch with ZombieWire and lets work together and inform the consumer of RFID before it is in their home.