Walmart is starting to put RFID tags on items such as blue jeans and underwear. Walmart claims that these tags, which the company uses already to track shipments and pallets, will help with inventory control. But there are many privacy and security issues surrounding RFID which must be addressed.
A little background: RFID stands for Radio-frequency Identification, and when used in this context refers specifically to RFID microchips. These chips send out a short, identifiable signal, similar to a computers IP address, when scanned by an RFID reader. This signal can be uniquely identified when scanned.
RFID tags can be very, very small. They can be washable for textiles and clothing like, well, underwear and blue jeans. They already are in many things you may have on you at this moment. Got a US Passport issued after 2006? If you use public transit and have a smart card, use a credit card with a swipe option, or use a touch badge at your place of employment, you are already using some of these chips without even knowing it.
If this freaks you out, check out how to disable RFID chips (not for those who are afraid of using blunt force).
Walmart was one of the industry leaders in using RFID along its distribution network, and many companies have followed Walmart's practices. So Walmart putting RFID tags in merchandise is setting a practice that we can expect other retailers to follow.
The Wall Street Journal's story on Walmart's use of RFID is the most in-depth, but there are privacy concerns that do need to be noted.
Marketers and sales experts may monitor people's clothing for RFID chips to gather consumer information.
Unscrupulous marketers can data-mine any public space that people carrying these chips go to find out what clothes people are wearing, even gathering information from other RFID chips to get demographic information about them. We live in a world where there is a constant stream of personal data about us being given away without our permission or even awareness. RFID is just another example of this phenomenon.
Removing tags.
Currently tags are removable, like a price tag would be. But RFID technology does not require that that always be the case.
To protect consumers, Walmart and other retailers should consider removing these tags at the point of sale, similar to how retailers have removed anti-theft tags for years. This would protect consumers unfamiliar with the technology.
Extremely unlikely but possible applications.
Using these tags, someone could, in theory, electronically "sniff" home trash bags to determine consumer habits in a neighborhood or individual's home. This seems unlikely, but marketers do crazy stuff all the time. Remember that bomb scare in Boston a few years ago? Marketers. And market researchers might be interested in your garbage.
Posted by Will - July 23, 2010 3:51 PM - Real Facts
If not removed at the point of sale, you may be placed on a list of shoplifters (as, using RFID, this tag can potentially pinpoint on where you live) Another way of generating lists of people and information to sell.
Posted by not surprised - July 30, 2010 2:48 PM