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RFID Tags in Law Enforcement
RFID tags seem to be the flavor of the month for law enforcement officials in the tracking of individuals both foreign and domestic. pin_gween writes "In an effort to speed up entry to the US, The Dept. of Homeland Security has begun a trial using RFID tags in certain visitors' papers. The tag is embedded in paperwork and "chip readers note the entry or exit of visitors who pass by and transmit that information to a government-maintained database." In addition, Saeed al-Sahaf writes "Security officials gathered Monday at a Canadian border crossing to mark the first test of this radio RFID system" Relatedly LexNaturalis writes "Wired News has an article about England testing RFID chips in license plates that can transmit VINs and other data to appropriate receivers. According to the article, the United States will be 'closely watching the British trial as they contemplate initiating their own tests of the plates, which incorporate radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags to make vehicles electronically trackable.' Naturally privacy advocates are decrying the move by stating that unlike electronic toll passes, these new plates will not be anonymous." We mentioned the concept of tracking visitors via RFID in July.
RFID in plates could help catch stolen vechiles... Right now if your car get stolen you can file a report and that will be the end of the story (that what happend with me at least)
Visit my site @ http://www.madtorrent.com
> The tag is embedded in paperwork and "chip readers note the entry or exit of visitors who pass by and transmit that information to a government-maintained database.
What's preventing people from storing their tickets and passports at locked storage boxes at airport?
That way they have complete freedom to roam around the country without being followed, the database doesn't even show them ever leaving the airport if the reader is at the front exit.
Or is there some limiting law that visitor must have his/her visa with him/her all times when moving outdoors that I missed?
There are no atheists when recovering from tape backup.
We don't have bar codes on the plates, but in Texas, they've started bar coding the registration stickers on the windows. Some police departments do have scanners in the cars, but they only read at contact distances.
It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
As I understand it, most RFID tags have a very limited range. If it was small enough, I'm wondering if you could have an officer's gun respond only when fired by a person wearing a RFID enabling ring or wristband. I say this because out of the majority of police officers who die each year in the line of duty, most are killed with their own weapons.
Why not go the extra mile and put RFID tags on cops, judges, politicians, doctors, bankers, pharmacists, etc.
Then publish their whereabouts on a googlized map system. Now when you need a doctor or a cop, you know where to go. When there's an accusation of corruption or impropriety, you can check the map logs and see if Congressman Joe "show me the money" Smith was visiting the local corporate ganstas. I think this idea has merits.
Stuff like this really makes me wonder if the national ID cards we've been hearing about will employ RFID technology as well.
Here's a possible worst case scenario for such a thing...
First, have these new RFID cards required by law to be on your person at all times. Those who fail to comply with this are met with stiff penalties and become tagged as possible terror suspects.
Then, set up a system to track each of these RFIDs to within three feet of their physical location, creating a database of common activity over time. (Going to work, groceries, etc...) If any new activity deviates from the activity stored in the database beyond a certain threshold or if the RFID goes out of range or stops transmitting beyond a set length of time, alert the feds / law enforcement to observe your activity directly, and tag you as a potential threat.
Finally,have anyone found tampering with the RFID or willfully preventing random access to the RFID data (wrapping it in foil, etc...) tagged as a potential terror suspect and presented with stiff penalties.
8==8 Bones 8==8
Even more interestingly, they seem pretty content with that fact. The fact that they're an unarmed populace with an armed (and dangerous!) government seems to please them greatly. The cameras and microphones in public places seem to get constant praise, or at least little outraged criticism (at least here on Slashdot). Some of the biggest gripes I heard in a previous article about the governor chips in cars in lieu of congestion fees were about how they weren't related (speeding in a congestion zone?).
What gives? When the US gets to the level of government involvement that England is currently experiencing, will we be happy with it, too?
If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
As for Saudi Arabia, I don't agree with our government's unwavering support for such a corrupt regime, which I might remind you was just as unwavering when Clinton was getting hummers in the Oval Office and perjuring himself about it.
So how do we deal with Mid-Easy terrorism? Drill a hole through the glass and pump out the oil.
-paul
Pistol caliber is like religion: everyone has their favourite, and theirs is the only right choice.
BTW: barcodes are most easily rendered unreadable by line-color marks parallel and over the lines. One is usually sufficient. More may be necessary for checksumed codes. Better grocery stores do this when they put dated goods on sale. Magstripes are easily destroyed by wiping with rare-earth magnets (check the positioner on an old Hard drive).
Also BTW: an empty wallet is not good when confronted by muggers. They tend to get upset over a poor haul, and commit further violence. Our security people recommend a "bait" wallet with some money, expired credit cards, etc.
People have a right to live how they wish, but any and all security precautions cost. The question is: do they payout? who are the opponents, and how likely are they to act? Personally, I believe that paranoia is a form of egotism: an exaggerated sense of self-importance.