RFID: The New Big Brother ?

Makarand writes "The possibility that we could be tracked not because we have a microchip implant but merely because we wear clothes, eat and carry objects around is real according to this article on C|net news. A technology called RFID (radio frequency identification) consisting of miniscule microchips the size of a single grain of sand that listen to a radio query and respond by transmitting their unique ID can make this possible. Most RFID tags use the power from the initial radio signal to transmit their response and hence can be placed anywhere imaginable. Retailers are adoring this concept and soon everything more expensive than a Snickers bar will sport RFID tags making tracking possible through our own personal possessions. The privacy threat comes when RFID tags remain active once you leave a store and currently the RFID industry seems to be giving 'mixed' signals about whether the tags will be disabled or left enabled by default."

Comments

Simple enough...

[Fesh]

Microwave clothes before wearing.

Re:Simple enough...

[fleener]

Finally, my privacy electromagnet will go mainstream. (Until now it was only used to plug into your Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie.)

Fleener's Law: 80% of conspiracy theories come true in time.

Wow...

[Slarty]

That's nutty. Soon anyone who cares about privacy is going to have to EMP themselves before they can go anywhere...

New use for your microwave!

[John Harrison]

Put your tracking enabled underwear in the microwave for 30 seconds and not only will they be toasty warm but you will be able to wear them anonymously. The problem comes when certain establishments mandate that you wear trackable underwear!

See?

[Anonymous Coward]

Now I've got a reason for advocating nudity....

Re:See?

[radish]

Hmmm....lets see...

Nude LAN parties *shudder*

Please take that thought out of my head!

And they thought I was mad...

[CommandNotFound]

...wearing my tinfoil suit, but who's laughing now?!?

Re:And they thought I was mad...

[mcgroarty]

I just checked, and your foil suit's RFID is 208350830850934:0304. Sleep well...

Sounds Good to Me

[ksplatter]

I hope My New Tracking Enabled T-shirt Has a Wear Anonymously Checkbox!

This will answer the age old question...

[delcielo]

of where all the missing socks go.

Re:cool

[swv3752]

And you expect to find this tricorder thingy if you can't keep track of a pencil?

IN SOVIET RUSSIA...

[Lethyos]

Clothing tracks YOU!

Oh, wait a minute...

Even simpler

[phorm]

Don't wear clothes. When you're in court for indecent exposure, tell them that RFID tags have made current clothing violate your right to privacy/anonymity...

That, or you could advertise a protect using your body...

Re:Even simpler

[jandrese]

I hope you appreciate the irony of walking around naked to protect your privacy.

Re:Even simpler

[Exedore]

Actually, I would hope that the judge appreciates it also. If not, I'm sure your fellow inmates will find it convenient, if not ironic.

RFID vs. Maytag

[greygent]

I hope the RFID tags can survive the ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) nightmare that is my clunky old dryer. It would be kind of humor to see this come to fruition, only to be wiped out en masse by clothes dryers.

Maybe I should call Maytag and see if they have some type of gauss gun add-on.

*ahem* Allow me.

[gosand]

This is Slashdot afterall, allow me to take a stab at it...

Wow, so someone will know I'm wearing Timberland boots, Dockers pants, Oakley sunglasses, and an Izod shirt.

You mean velcro closure Reeboks, sweatpants, prescription glasses, a Slashdot shirt, and a Members Only jacket.

They won't know my name, address, phone number, age, social security number, sexual preference, number of pets, or marital status.

Who cares, your parent's house, your parent's phone number, 16-40, who cares, who knows, 3 cats, and single.