RFID Technology - Potential Of Big Brother

Transcription

1 The Computer in the Sciences: RFID Technology California State University, Stanislaus Student s Name Professor Dan Bratten CS March 30, 2006

2 Last Name 2 The Computer in the Sciences: RFID Technology RFID, radio frequency identification, has become a hotly debated topic today. The tiny microchip can be embedded into a wide variety of consumer products. The chip could also be embedded in humans. Everything from library use to passports, driver licenses, pharmaceuticals, and human beings are potential RFID technology candidates. This author found several positive benefits of RFID technology. The RFID tag could save lives. For instance, the Alzheimer s patient or stroke patient could have an RFID tag implanted insuring easy access to medical information as these patients may be unable to communicate in a medical emergency. Also, forensic scientists have used the technology after the Tsunami catastrophe in Southeast Asia. Due to the large number of dead bodies, identification and tracking was manageable (Meyer, Chansue, & Monticelli, 2006). However, with the increasing problems of identity theft, RFID technology has a long way to go in finding solutions to prevent personal information misuse (Shapiro, 2005). Another problem with RFID technology involves the lack of limit to use of the tag. For example, a tag used for tracking an item purchased at Wal-Mart could continue to be tracked once the purchase has left the store (Albrecht & McIntyre, 2005, p. 223). This author contends that RFID technology today has dangerous implications in protecting Americans right to privacy: a Fourth Amendment concept. First, a short summary of an RFID tag. RFID tags are made up of a tiny computer chip with an antenna. RFID uses radio frequency signals to identify products. Most RFID systems are made up of 3 main components: the actual tags attached to the items to be managed; scanners (readers) to communicate with the host computer and the tags; and a host computer system to communicate with the reader, manage item data, and implement software applications. The way it works is the reader is able to scan the tag from a distance and transmits data from the tag to a computer. (Landt, 2006). The tag itself is called a transponder or less technically a smart tag. In essence, the tags are small digital radios (Landt, 2006). There are two types of RFID tags: passive

3 Last Name 3 and active. The passive RFID micro-tags, which are the smaller of the two types, have no internal power source. Information in the tag is read when the tag is scanned by an RFID reader only. To activate the tag, the scanning process is used, and then the information is transmitted. In other words, when the smart tags exists or enters a read zone, the tag is activated to transmit its information called epc (electronic product code). When the tag is in the read zone, it is scanned by a wireless receiver that is then able to transmit its information to the Internet or another type of device that uses the information to initiate another event such as opening a toll gate or charging a credit card (Scher, 2003). Without an internal power source, the tag is limited by scanner power and closeness. The active RFID micro tags do have internal power sources so they don t need the close-up activating scanner and can transmit information a farther distance. The new smart tags can be smaller than the point of a pencil or even a flake of pepper (Shapiro, 2005). At first glance, applications for RFID technology appear to be a boom for the retail industry. The uses of these smart tags in consumer products are seen as interactive bar codes. The epc is similar to the bar code however it is capable of providing unique identifiers for each individual product. It is more than an updated UPC bar code. RFID technology differs from bar codes in three important ways. First, RFID tags each have a unique serial number. There could be a linkage between recording the purchase of an item and information from a credit card or membership card. Second, RFID tags are remotely readable. With the right reader device, it can read through people s backpacks, purses, and wallets without their consent (Randall, 2006). Third, RFID readers emit electromagnetic energy over wide areas. Medical researchers are raising questions about the health effects of this type of exposure to low levels of electromagnetic radiation (Albrecht & McIntyre, 2005, p.28). In August 2001, Procter and Gamble applied for a patent titled Systems and Methods for Tracking Consumers in a Store Environment. Procter and Gamble has become aware that the concept of tracking the consumer may be a public relations nightmare. Recently, Sandy Hughes,

4 Last Name 4 Procter and Gamble s global privacy executive denied that her company had ever thought about tracking consumers with RFID (Albrecht & McIntyre, 2005, p.62). The use of RFID in consumer products raises the concerns over Big Brother. As with many other scientific and technological advances, the ethical concerns have not caught up with the innovations (Randall, 2006). Privacy issues need to be resolved (Merritt, 2006). One possible solution could be disablement by default of the smart tag at the point of purchase. Another solution could be for consumers who are concerned about the technology to not purchase products containing smart chips. Those companies involved with RFID in products include Gillette, Procter and Gamble, and Wal-Mart (Albrecht & McIntyre, 2005, p.223). The State Department began using embedding RFID chips in passports called electronic passports ( State Department, 2005). The chip contains the digitized picture of the person, name, date of birth, and nationality. Current information cites the disturbing fact that the data is not encrypted. This means anyone with a reader device will be able to read information stored on it (Shapiro, 2005). Barry Steinhardt, the director of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program stated, If there s any nation in the world at the moment that could do without such a device, it is the United States (Albrecht & McIntyre, 2005, p.133). In conclusion, as RFID technology is being implemented today, the questions and concerns have not been fully investigated and answered. This is disturbing in a time when privacy and identity theft are becoming an increasing problem. This author contends that until privacy, identity, and security issues have been addressed properly and the consumer knows where these RFID tags are being used, this technology is potentially dangerous to our society. Technology glitches provide more opportunity for personal information to be misused and it is unsettling to think of even more potential for identity theft and privacy invasion problems.

5 Last Name 5 References Albrecht, K. & McIntyre, L. (2005). Spychips. Nashville, TN: Nelson Current. Landt, J. (2006). RFID still crossing the chasm? RFID solves a lot of problems. Portable Design, 12(1), Retrieved February 23, 2006, from Expanded Academic ASAP database (A ). Merritt, R. (2006, February 20). Secure or not, RFID tag adoption in the cards. Electronic Engineering Times, 1. Retrieved February 26, 2006, from Expanded Academic ASAP database (A ). Meyer, J., Chansue, N., & Monticelli, F. (2006). Implantation of radio frequency identification device (RFID) microchip in disaster relief identification (DVI). Forensic Science International, 157(2-3), Retrieved February 23, 2006, from Expanded Academic ASAP database (A ). Randall, K. (2006, February 23). Look behind you: human tracking devices a big brother problem, Texas A&M experts say. Ascribe Law News Service. Retrieved February 27, 2006, from Expanded Academic ASAP database (A ). Scher, P. (2005). New uses for RFID tags being explored. E-Commerce Law & Strategy, 19(9), 6. Retrieved February 23, 2006, from LexisNexis database from 7ff4b4b5b&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLzVzzzSkVA&_md5=0622a300722af31ce704cde8cf Shapiro, S. (2005, June 6). Commentary: radio frequency ID: Revisiting a privacy alert. The Daily Record. Retrieved February 23, 2006, from LexisNexis database from

6 Last Name d8&_docnum=55&wchp=dGLzVzzzSkVA&_md5=7fdd6a44911d27bdf0ab3b c1. State Department begins switch to RFID passports. (2005, October 26). eweek. Retrieved February 23, 2006, from Expanded Academic ASAP database (A ).