Does RFID Scare You?

This technology gives me the shivers because it could be used to ID any person, place or item on the planet and allow tracking of virtually anyone or anything a government or an individual wishes. If individuals were forced by their governments or other superior to carry such an RFID tag, it could eliminate any privacy an individual can have, with the possible exception of their private thoughts. There are way too many possible abuses with such a technology in spite of the multitude of possible good, honorable end-uses. Sure it could be used to find kidnapped children, sure it could be used to prevent shoplifting, and on and on, but as the first poster noted, if a technology can be abused, it will be.

Aqua doc,

How about those other gadgets they put on our products that cause problems for thieves. They are supposed to be removed or disabled after puchase.

Got a shirt with RFID? Microwave it.

I think the RFID Scanner business will be brisque for a while. People will be running around their homes and workplaces hunting those little buggers down so they can kill them or return them to the store with a demand for removal or a refund.

Jon

I have been concerned about the implications of tracking almost anything using RFID tagging since my introduction to this technology in 1998. I was wondering for a decade now when the rest of the world was going to be enlightened to this technology and raise concerns regarding it. I believe that the current RFID technology requires a large electromagnetic field to be placed in close proximity to the device for it to derive its power from that field and essentially "wake up". In the not too distant future, the effective range will be lengthened.

THe immediate concerns that I have involve such devices being installed into items that may contain sensitive information and could be unknowingly scanned while these items are carried on one's person in public places. I believe that there are companies already making wallets and purses with built-in shielding to prevent such an unknowing scan.

Like any technology, there will be people who will exploit it in an attempt to profit: legally or illegally.

The nominal range of security RFID setups is about 300 feet.

The inventor of RFID is also a developer of biomedical microstimulator technology: injectable stuff no surgery required. As per this article 1999. Low profile stimulator implant tech for research in "freely moving animals" is often powered by an external transmitter, and it isn't clear to me what the limits on range are. Presumably, the range is dependent on transmitter power.

The possibility of a covert, injectable weapon along these lines is a bit scarier than simple tracking, IMHO. If they can track you, it's bad, but if they can mess with your nervous system as well....

Tropicalspeed,

GPS doesn't receive except from command centers for maintaining the satellites.

A new system could replace those at extreme costs.

Jon

Could you please amplify your comment concerning GPS? I don't quite understand.

Tropicalspeed,

GPS satellites do not track ground based transmissions except those from control and monitoring stations. Only control stations can upload operation and maintenance data to the satellites.

GPS is made up of three parts: satellites orbiting the Earth; control and monitoring stations on Earth; and the GPS receivers owned by users.

Jon

OK, now I understand. What I was referring to was a GPS RECEIVER incorporated into the RFID tag and it was the tag that would re-broadcast the position data obtained from the GPS receiver via its RF transmitter much the same way a cellular system tracks GPS enabled cell phones. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.

Tropicalspeed,

Yes. I see what you mean.

Jon

I read a few months ago that the RFID tags were compulsory to be worn by tunnel workers on one of Queensland (Australia) road project. The 'excuse' was to ensure that all people working in the tunnel are safe and can be tracked in case of a disaster. A person on a PC was able to track any worker at any time their whereabouts. I'm sure that the system was abused but not policed (ie hunting around for those that done a leak behind the truck )...

I don't like this technology, but I'm sure that people will embrace it for convenience sake (ie not have to wait forever to get the groceries scanned individually)...imagine...A trolly full of groceries needs only a walk through! Then link that to the personal RFID and your bill can be automatically deducted from your account. no lines, no waiting!!!!

Good Day All right thinking people of the World. If RFID does not presently scare you, then it certainly should. PLEASE UNDERSTAND ...It is not the output from the RFID to their control centres that should be concerning you all, that is all common knowledge anyway... info easily obtained via prevailing long standing methodology. It is the possible diabolical inputs from their control centers to YOU that should be concerning you... i.e. Brainwave Entrainment. Mood Alterations, Aggression Induction, Sexual Stimulation/De-stimulation, Auto-Triggering, (MONARCH PROGRAM) Apathy Induction and much much more!

"THEY" are covertly selling you this tech as a "Protection" against a FALSE and "MANUFACTURED FEAR", as an enhanced "Security" for the Sheeple.. "THEY" have over the recent years successfully induced enough Fear of so called "Terrorism" into these poor unsuspecting victims that the sheeple will soon be "BEGGING" "THEM" to implant, which is of course their ultimate goal, an ENSLAVED Populace of Fools willingly giving up their Human right to TRUE freedom.("THEY" are now busy with "Manufacturing Consent". Ref. Noam Chomsky) By Allowing/Asking for the implantation of this chip, you will become nothing more than Herded & Enslaved FOOLS totally controlled by the criminal proponents of this diabolical imperative to their New World Order.

On its eventual and imminently compulsory introduction, refuse it ... you will most likely and somewhat mysteriously go amiss ... damn rock and a hard place! ... I for one will be refusing and will probably end up in "Single Lost Sock" Land, but at best I will be going down truly free as God intended and unmodified as God made me. The white-coated/shrouded monkey that has been commissioned to implant me will be close by my side! ... DEAD

There are none as CAPTIVE as those who BLINDLY BELIEVE they are FREE!

Common & anticipated response...JaJa just another "conspiracy theorist" ... effing idiot, our Loving and Caring Governments would NEVER dream of bringing such awful things into being. Hells-bells, some even deliver medicines to us in our water supply free of charge heh heh .... Please save it for the rest of your sleepy Possum friends!

In the pharmaceutical industry this is known as ePedigree or Track & Track. At the moment RFID is not suitable for this because of technical and product integrity issues. The puppose of ePedigree/ Track & Track is to deter counterfit products from being sold on the market. In theory the manufacturer or the regulating agency will have a database of all the valid products and these can be tracked through every step of the delivery chain.

I seriously doubt the concerns that this has privacy concerns. My thought is that in order to make this article more interesting than it actually is the author has decided to bring in the "big brother is watching you" card in the hope of generating some interest.

Mr. W.A Snow

I disagree. I believe many of the posters here have formed their opinions long before the author spoke out. We take our freedoms far too much for granted. Many of society's woes have been brought on by engineers/scientists being naive over the potential downsides of new technologies and assuming that governments and peoples will use them responsibly.

agua_doc,

I agree with you when you say that we often "assuming that governments and peoples will use them responsibly." You are 100% correct. However, in this case I seriously doubt that the tagging will have an impact on personal freedoms.

I suppose upon reflection, I was a bit flippant about the subject.

Mr. W.A Snow

If they want to know what toilet paper I buy and what I use it for they can ask, or watch or track me.

They can tag me if they want. I have the knowledge and resources to manufacture devices capable of generating close range RF and EMP outputs capable of burning out any electronics small enough to be implanted in me.

Sort of pointless to tag the monkey that has a key that can shut off his own tracking device!

If you think your foil hat is not stopping the signals well enough give me a call. I will zap you with enough EM energy to kill off any man made tracking device guaranteed!

As for alien tech maybe not. But for a few hundred dollars more I will lie to you and say it did any way!

( Like your really going to know the differance anyway! )

Aside from some of the conspiracy theories posted. Companies such as wal-mart already are tracking what you buy and selling that info to advertisers and product manufacturers. A rfid on your person just makes this easier. If you use a credit card or a check, your name is attached to all sales. I object to this and only use cash when buying items to stop this. I do not carry any cards in my wallet that have rfids in them althougth I do have one at work that I have to carry at work. It opens doors and if I use my keys I get dinged for not using the card. I broke my card and my boss knew I wasn't using it before I let them know I needed a new one. I saw a list of times and dates for doors I had gone thru. The software for tracking rfids already exists.

It certanly does scare me. it has been proven that anyone with a basic electronics knowledge and a laptop can steal your information. With the proper equipment, you could sit on a park bench and collect hundreds of credit card information

I see that RFID tags will be primarily used on tracking consumer goods and giving you a consumer identity. But, I can't imagine it being used only for that. A lot of people here expressed worry over the misuse of RFID. That only means we know people easily could use it for personal gain. If we as humans are evolving towards taking more risks for very miniscule gains, we need to reevaluate what we think life is. Most of the problems of the 20th century are pretty much on runnaway. Theres little we can do but brace for impact. The rich will get what they want, by hook or by crook.