The RFID Privacy Questions Continue

USA Today has a story about how a uniform supply company is using its RFID tag uniforms. The company scoffs at the idea that it is tracking individual workers. As for me, I ain’t laughin’.

History shows that unless privacy is mandated, someone will find a way to violate it to make a buck. Once one market actor starts doing it, the others follow to “remain competitive.”

Sadly, I suspect we will need to have some really awful egregious cases before people get up in arms about this stuff. Heck, in the right climate, having a microchip that tracks you and stores your personal information will be hailed as a boon. Tag your relative with Alzheimer’s, for example, with medical treatement information encoded on the chip for an easy read by medical personel. And what parent has never longed for the ability to find their missing child in a crowded place?

As is so often the case, the nasty side of the technology– whether for government surveillance or for corporate gain — will be dismissed by the mainstream as paranoid fantasy. Until it comes true, and then it was inevitable.

Stay tuned . . .

Related Posts:

One Comment

  1. John
    August 31, 2004 at 10:54 am

    Harold,

    You say,

    <i>

    As is so often the case, the nasty side of the technology– whether for government surveillance or for corporate gain — will be dismissed by the mainstream as paranoid fantasy. Until it comes true, and then it was inevitable.

    </i>

    Spoken like a true wetmachinist, my son. Excellent!

Comments are closed