Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

RFID: Europe Wants to Tag You
Brussels Journal ^ | 2006-03-12 | Elaib Harvey

Posted on 03/20/2006 9:36:15 AM PST by robowombat

RFID: Europe Wants to Tag You

From the desk of Elaib Harvey on Sun, 2006-03-12 20:45

Am I the only one who is a tad concerned about the new RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Devices) Policy for Europe? I hope not. This year data retention legislation was introduced by the European Parliament and now we have the execrable Viviane Reding at a major conference in Hanover burbling about the Commission’s new consultation on the electronic tagging technology.

Given that Commission Press Releases are normally bland to the point of ennui the following is quite something, “But their power to report their location, identity and history also raises serious concerns about personal privacy and security.” You could say that.

Some years ago I learned that the Commission was developing an RFID chip with Toshiba and a couple of German funds that could fit into a €50 note. When I spoke to the companies’ press officers they got very huffy about it but would not deny the project. The Commission refused to talk.

The kit itself really is pretty clever. At one recent Tesco trial the tags embedded in the packaging of Gillette M3 razors activated cameras that photographed the customer at the shelf and again at the checkout. An admirable tool to combat shoplifting no doubt, but in truth I do not trust governments. This technology, may be undoubtedly clever and effective – logistics, just in time ordering and all sorts of other applications spring to mind – until the government gets involved. Last week’s announcement that the new UK driving licence is to be biometric is an example.

Now with EU wide RFID “ambient networks” or “internet of things,” where almost everything you buy or own or use is talking to each other, I am a little concerned. The Commissions phrase “But RFID devices will also pervade the Government sector (e.g. eGovernment, national defence and security)” should set one thinking. I don’t like the way that appears to be going.

What was particularly interesting about Mrs Reding’s comments was the pretence (as usual – q.v. enlargement, constitution, etc) that this consultation would be about producing a “bottom-up consensus on RFID” in the EU. The problem is that if the general public have fears about the technology, and its privacy and democratic risks, then the Commission would “answer the unreasonable fears.” That is they have already decided what they want and this consultation is, as usual, a farce. The fact that she announced the consultation at the same time as she told us that “the EU and US had reached an agreement to collaborate over interoperability and privacy in October” does rather prove that the decisions have been made.

In the interests of my own peace of mind I have signed up for two of the Commission’s RFID workshops: · RFID Application domains and emerging trends: RFID offers promising application potential in many domains – pharmaceuticals, health, agriculture, transport, logistics, security and more. This workshop should identify these application domains, prioritise them and formulate recommendations: e.g. what can be done to assess the needs, and to define guidelines on the use of technology in these domains? · End-user/consumer issues: Work will include re-assessing the need to revise the e-privacy directive in relation to RFID; the ethical implications of RFID; the acceptability of technological approaches to build trust – with a special focus on privacy and authentication (tag to reader, reader to tag, reader to network); and to enhance security (there is no privacy without layered security).

Interestingly these workshops were announced last Thursday. The first took place Monday and Tuesday. Which is a shame because I missed this fascinating dissertation, “Dr. Françoise Roure, Conseil général des technologies de l’information: From digital object identification to digital identification of people.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 4a; 4thamendment; bigbrother; camera; cameras; europe; fourthamendment; monitor; monitoring; monitors; nationalid; privacy; rfid; surveillance; watching
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last
To: CBart95
PS which Franklin are you misquoting? Aretha? or Who?

Your ignorance of Ben Franklin's quote is duly noted.

21 posted on 03/23/2006 4:14:55 PM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill

And here I thought you were quoting the Delano Roosevelt Franklin.

Nice way to skirt the issue.

Your SCORN is devastating.

Remember the Hat,Billy!


22 posted on 03/23/2006 5:03:19 PM PST by CBart95
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: CBart95
Your attempt at constructing a creative post was pitiful. I mean, really, stringing together a bunch of insults among a load of babbling was hardly effective... Maybe later in life, after you have learned to read and write, you will have more success.

True, these are rudimentary skills that many of us "normal" people take for granted that everyone has an easy time of mastering. But we sometimes forget that there are "challenged" persons in this world who find these things more difficult.

If I had known, that this was your case then I would have never read your post. It just wouldn't have been "right". Sort of like parking in a handicap space.

I wish you the best of luck in the emotional, and social struggles that seem to be placing such a demand on you.

23 posted on 03/23/2006 5:17:07 PM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill

Very charitable of you Bill.

Good to know that so-called "normal people" arm themselves with professionally prepared photos of sheep watching our President on TV.

Must be nice being a "normal" agent for the AlQueda.


24 posted on 03/23/2006 5:24:20 PM PST by CBart95
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: CBart95
Good to know that so-called "normal people" arm themselves with professionally prepared photos of sheep watching our President on TV. Must be nice being a "normal" agent for the AlQueda.

Twenty-Five Ways To Suppress Truth: The Rules of Disinformation

5. Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule. This is also known as the primary 'attack the messenger' ploy, though other methods qualify as variants of that approach.

Associate opponents with unpopular titles such as 'kooks', 'right-wing', 'liberal', 'left-wing', 'terrorists', 'conspiracy buffs', 'radicals', 'militia', 'racists', 'religious fanatics', 'sexual deviates', and so forth.

This makes others shrink from support out of fear of gaining the same label, and you avoid dealing with issues.

Example: 'You believe what you read in the Spotlight? The Publisher, Willis DeCarto, is a well-known right-wing racist. I guess we know your politics -- does your Bible have a swastika on it? That certainly explains why you support this wild-eyed, right-wing conspiracy theory.'

25 posted on 03/23/2006 6:03:52 PM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: CBart95
Twenty-Five Ways To Suppress Truth: The Rules of Disinformation
26 posted on 03/23/2006 6:06:23 PM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill

While FREEP is off the air for the next 30 days you might wish to entertain yourself by looking up the meaning of "paranoid schizophrenia and adult psychosis".

And since we will have past his birthday celebration, let me pass on my Happy Birthday Adolph Hitler greetings to you now.

Please remember: they are really out to get you.


27 posted on 03/24/2006 5:47:40 AM PST by CBart95
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: joesnuffy
Controlling people...is what the new world odor is all about.

It's to identify and capture terrorists. To be against being personally traceable and trackable is tantamount to being soft on terror. If there is one more terrorist attack, it will be the fault of the people who are against tracking people with RFIDs.

28 posted on 03/24/2006 5:50:59 AM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CBart95
And since we will have past his birthday celebration, let me pass on my Happy Birthday Adolph Hitler greetings to you now.

Sorry, you lose.

Goodbye now.

Enjoy your RFID tag.

29 posted on 03/24/2006 6:54:04 AM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: robowombat

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/1574089/posts?page=1

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578091/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1586320/posts


30 posted on 03/24/2006 6:55:35 AM PST by Jonx6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt
To be against being personally traceable and trackable is tantamount to being soft on terror. If there is one more terrorist attack, it will be the fault of the people who are against tracking people with RFIDs.

I assume you left off the "sarcasm" tag?

If you are being serious...there's really nothing more to say...you are utterly cluelsee.

31 posted on 03/24/2006 6:56:10 AM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill
I assume you left off the "sarcasm" tag?

I did leave off the "You can't name one right or abuse that would occur if everybody was required to have an RFID."

If you are being serious...you are utterly cluelsee.


32 posted on 03/24/2006 7:03:04 AM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: CBart95
contraire: controlling people who "have something to hide" is what it's all about...criminals.

Good luck marking the law abiding Christians with your tag.

But you go ahead and pony up and be tagged(and controlled).

33 posted on 03/24/2006 7:04:15 AM PST by Lady Heron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt
"You can't name one right or abuse that would occur if everybody was required to have an RFID."

All U.S. citizens to receive National ID card by 2008

The Real ID Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Bush on May 11, 2005, mandates that all U.S. citizens will receive a National ID card (with RFID chip) by May of 2008.

Without this National ID, you won't...

* Drive your car
* Board a plane, train, or bus
* Enter any federal building
* Open a bank account
* Hold a job

If you can’t hold a job or have a bank account, how much buying and selling will you be able to do?

No National ID

34 posted on 03/24/2006 7:09:55 AM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: CBart95
Wow. Methinks you are on quite the wrong website with the views you're expressing. What part of the concept of FreeRepublic do you not understand?
35 posted on 03/24/2006 7:10:48 AM PST by SW6906 (5 things you can't have too much of: sex, money, firewood, guns and ammunition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Lady Heron
Good luck marking the law abiding Christians with your tag. But you go ahead and pony up and be tagged(and controlled).

It amazes me how many "sheep" here call themselves "conservatives".

36 posted on 03/24/2006 7:11:05 AM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: SW6906
Wow. Methinks you are on quite the wrong website with the views you're expressing.

Seems to be a few of these anti-freedom trolls on this thread.

37 posted on 03/24/2006 7:13:42 AM PST by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: ActionNewsBill; CBart95
Godwin's Law
38 posted on 03/24/2006 7:16:10 AM PST by SW6906 (5 things you can't have too much of: sex, money, firewood, guns and ammunition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: WoofDog123
Hi All-

That looks like a poster for a spooky sci-fi movie, not a government program. That actually sent chills up my spine, the notion that people would welcome this kind of surveillance blows my mind. It's even more shocking when so-called conservatives promote it.

~ Blue Jays ~

39 posted on 03/24/2006 7:17:17 AM PST by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt
"I did leave off the "You can't name one right or abuse that would occur if everybody was required to have an RFID."

How about this one (that has actually happened, though I can't find the article right now):

Couple decides to divorce. Wife plays the abuse card with no evidence whatsoever that any abuse has occurred in a ploy to gain full custody of the children. Wife gets grocery store to release records of purchases (through those little club cards - the precursor to RFID) showing how much beer is bought by husband. Wife successfully convinces court that she was likely abused because husband drank (in her opinion) too much beer. Wife convinces court husband has drinking problem despite his not having ANY problems with DUIs, work, or anything connected to alcohol. Family & friends testify that he does not drink heavily or have any problems.

Court awards custody to wife.

With RFID, there is no way to make any purchase anywhere anytime that cannot be later be used against you in some way. Think: alcohol. Guns. Ammunition. ANYTHING. Your purchase can be completely innocent, it's what the government or others do with that information that is troubling. Why some fail to see that befuddles me.

This doesn't even get into the tracking your movements aspect of it..........

40 posted on 03/24/2006 7:26:01 AM PST by SW6906 (5 things you can't have too much of: sex, money, firewood, guns and ammunition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson