Hitachi's Tiny RFID Chips

paltemalte writes "Hitachi has just come out with a new crop of RFID tags, measuring only 1/20 of a millimeter square. That's 1/8 the size (in linear dimension) of Hitachi's currently shipping mu-chips, which are 0.4 mm square. The new chip's width is slightly smaller than a human hair. These chips could put an end to shoplifting forever, but they could also be used by a governments or other entities to 'dust' crowds or areas, easily tagging anyone present without their knowledge or consent. Will someone come up with a surefire way of neutralizing chips that may be on your body or in your clothing?" Hard to pin down a source on this. The article cites another blog, which points to an article in Japanese.

Comments

Currency Tracking

[Kaikopere]

Maybe my tinfoil hat is showing, but the first thing that sprang to my mind was "Great, now they have a way to track cash transactions". RFID chips in the currency, readers in the cash registers so you don't have to worry all that much about distance. They'll sell it as a way to prevent counterfeiting.

Re:Small tags have inherent limitations

[Umbrel]

Besides there is the cost of the scanning equipment, I can see a supermarket putting it on their 2 or 3 doors, but for a goverment to track all the people the cost (I guess) would be too high. Of course a totalitarian megalomaniac will try to pay but increasing taxes or something but I don't think it would work anyway.

There is a pretty neat DIY solution

[gripen40k]

Not that anyone reads these comments down here, but there is a viable *and* diy solution from my fav. feminine fabricator, ladyada. Essentially it's an RF jammer, and apparently it works quite well :).

After reading up on what it is, I think that I'll avoid posting direct links, as that might seem to be 'advertising'. I'm not sure, but I really wouldn't like for her to get fined with 11 grand 'cause of some over-enthusiastic fanboy...