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RFID Coming 'Whether You Like It Or Not'
VTBassMatt writes "According to an interview with Scott McGregor of Philips Semiconductor in BusinessWeek, RFID tags are coming whether we like it or not but of course won't affect our privacy. Choice quotes from the article include such gems as, '[P]rivacy concerns around RFID tags are a little like concerns about supermarket scanners years ago. When the laser scanners were coming out, everybody was saying, retailers are going to collect information about what you buy. And none of that happened.' Is that why I have two loyalty cards on my keyring and three more in my wallet?"
"RFID tags are coming whether we like it or not"
Always remember with things that they are trying to sell, it'll only work if people buy it. For any product, if the "we" that doesn't like it enough to actually boycott it is sufficiently large, it won't happen in a free market.
On this issue, I tend to think he's right- consumers will allow everything to end up with RFID's- but don't forget that the collective "we" always could stop anything they have in mind, there's no forcing us.
Work to get yourself heard and have an effect on the things you believe in. If the first store to implement consumer item RFID had their sales immediately drop by even 10%, or preferably 90%, it would send a loud and clear message, and most managers wouldn't want to risk a similar problem. With a big word of mouth campaign and a few dedicated individuals handing out pamphlets in front of the stores, this might be accomplished.
Can anyone tell me how to set my sig on Slashdot?
No, idiot, you have two loyalty cards on your keyring and three more in your wallet because you CHOSE to get them. For every membership store like Sams Club and every sign your life information to us for a discount store like Kroger, there is a store like Publix that says: Shop with us where we don't make you have a stupid loyalty card.
Furthermore, stores like Kroger, that offer loyalty cards don't REQUIRE them to shop. They just give you a discount on your merchandise if you use the card.
You CHOSE to get the card, because saving a few bucks was more important to you than your privacy, so get off your moral high horse about RFID.
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