BC Government on RFID
May 2, 2007
Yesterday I sent an email to a member of the BC legislature on RFID technology.
She recently made some enlightened comments on the potential abuses of the technology on April 23, 2007. I read her comments was happy to see that someone was at least raising this critical issue, so I sent her a letter.
Here is the email I sent:
Maurine,
I recently read your comments in the BC Legislature (April 23, 2007) on RFID technologies and their potential uses and privacy abuses. I want to personally thank you for raising this critical privacy issue. And the fact that you represent my sister's riding was particularly gratifying.
I have worked in the technology industry for the past 18 years and see this technology as one of the most potentially dangerous technologies ever invented in regards to our personal freedom and privacy. While the technology does have some legitimate uses in supply chain management and animal monitoring, the potential for abuse is so high that I think immediate legislation is required to keep the genie in the bottle as it were. And it's use in humans needs to be banned outright.
You are right on the money when you talked about the ability to track a product or person individually. This has three potential concerns for me. One, theft by anyone with an RFID reader (a particular problem if its used in a passport or driver's license). Two, the ability of corporations or governments to track ever single transaction and ever single product a person buys through the entire life of the product. Three, the potential to track a person's every movement.
Disturbingly, the technology has already been used by Gillete in their Mach3 razors (http://www.spychips.com/press-releases/rfid-australia.html) and Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese (http://www.spychips.com/metro/albrecht-tour-3.htmll)
Something you didn't comment on was the potential use of this technology
in the fibers of banknotes. The European Central Bank stated some years
ago that it planned to have RFID tags imbedded by 2005
(http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20011219S0016l). And it has already been
reported that RFID tags are in fact now in the fibers of Euro banknotes
and newer US $20 bills. The use of the RFID tag in money allows money to
carry its own history by recording information about where it has been,
thus giving corporations, governments and law enforcement agencies a
means to literally "follow the money" in every transaction. Thus, the
anonymity that cash affords in consumer transactions has been be
eliminated in Europe and is now starting to be eliminated in the US.
Privacy has literally been destroyed. I haven't found any information
establishing that this has been done in Canada, but of course we do tend
to follow to US with a certain lag time.
Now, if we look at the BC governments plans for a Driver's License that
could include biometric data such as iris scans, facial recognition, and
fingerprints along with RFID technology, the situation becomes
positively Orwellian. The use of biometric data and RFID on Driver's
Licenses is nothing less than a National ID card reborn in another form.
I'm sure you're aware of this initiative, but if not check out the
Seattle Post Intelligencer from March 23, 2007
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/308864_border24.html
"The alternative license will contain a Radio Frequency Identification
chip, commonly known as RFID, which the guard booths will use to scan
the license as a traveler or trucker pulls up to the booth. U.S.
passports issued since late 2006 already contain RFID chips."
With the potential of this technology, it's not a stretch at all to see
the integration of your driver's license with your bank card, health
card, other forms of ID and commercial transaction vehicles such as
credit cards. All implemented in a single card and through a series of
interlinked databases into a centralized intelligence system. Add in
RFID in cash and you have a very chilling scenario. All our movements
and transactions tracked and recorded.
There is a book that I've been meaning to read called Spy Chips by
Katherine Albrecht that you might want to read. Their web site is
http://www.spychips.com/
For information on Canadian business pro RFID perspective, you can check
out The Canadian RFID Centre at http://www.canadianrfidcentre.ca
So from my perspective, we are rushing headlong into the broad use of
this technology without enough careful and considered debate of the
implications and legislating boundaries of its use. I'm hoping you, as
an already informed person, will continue to pursue this issue and act
to protect our personal freedom and privacy from abuse. For once, we
need to stay ahead of the curve and not have to play catch up after the
abuses become widespread and we are in a reactionary position.
Thank you for your time.
Guy Selzler
250-661-6268
gselzler@yahoo.ca
ps. If you think it would be worthwhile, I would be happy to send this
message to every member of the legislature. Please don't allow your
partisan interest in this issue to cloud your advise.
Here is her very prompt response recieved today (March 2, 2007).
Thanks Guy
Great to hear from you.
I appreciate your information. In the Legislature, I would have talked
about more of the risks...........like the tagging of money.........but
was limited by the time constraints in the House. I will continue to
pursue this issue and will continue to push for legislation that
protects consumers and the public.
I will follow up on the tips and suggestions you have made as well.
Cheers
Maurine