Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

RFID: The New Big Brother ?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the break-out-the-tinfoil-hats dept.

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."

3 of 554 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yikes by EatHam · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    If you calculate the numerological value of Nero's full name according to numerological practices of the time it adds up to 666

    Which is fine, except that there are no original manuscripts available from that time that definitavely say that the number is, in fact, 666. The middle character (can't remember which one it is now, but I'm pretty sure it's not on my keyboard anyway) is somewhat obscured from the originals, making it difficult to distinguish. It could just as easily be 616, but that just doesn't sound as evil for some reason.

  2. Winona Ryder by Slashdolt · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    "Long time privacy advocate Winona Ryder says that these chips are a severe threat to privacy..."

  3. Re:GET A LIFE ! by John_Renne · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Do you realize how lame your life is ?

    Yes I'm fully aware of that. Thanks for asking though

    Can't you cook yourself ?
    Yes but sometimes I choose not to do so

    Do you have to drive to work ?No, I could use public transport but that would increase traveling time quit a bit

    Can't you spend your evening in a theater ?
    I could but every night would be quit a costly hobby

    Don't you have a significant other IRL ?

    No!

    --
    /(bb|[^b]{2})/