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FTC to Scrutinize Contactless Payment Technology

coondoggie writes to tell us that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be taking a look at contactless payment systems and the consumer protection issue surrounding them. "RFID technology provides obvious benefits, the FTC said. For example, the ability of producers using RFID to track exactly where in the supply chain their products are and by which retailer they were ultimately sold to a consumer has the potential to make product recalls more effective. However, there also may be costs regarding consumers' individual privacy rights associated with it."

8 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What I don't get... by esocid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, I lost the other one in a freak RFID accident you insensitive clod!

    --
    Absolute power corrupts absolutely. indymedia
  2. Re:We are too lazy.. by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are you crazy?! Payment devices like PIN pads are cesspools of dangerous germs! They have 3,000 times more germs than a toilet seat, and touching them quintuples your chances of contracting horrible diseases like West Nile virus or the Bubonic Plague.

    PIN pads are the next great threat facing your health and the health of your children. Did you hear me? These things could KILL your CHILDREN! You mustn't touch them! You must carry around the econo-size hand sanitizer and use it every time you come within 30 feet of a PIN pad or anyone who has recently used a PIN pad.

    For more on this and other everyday items that can KILL your CHILDREN, watch Action News at 10, with weather from Skip Stormy and the DopplerXtreme 6000.

  3. Re:What I don't get... by gnick · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thats why you have two hands. Cover your PIN with your other hand. No it's not. I have two hands because my ancestor who first developed a mutant hinge at the end of his stubs had two arms.

    But, now that I have these two wonderful hands, covering up my PIN is one of the things I can use them for.
    --
    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  4. Re:We are too lazy.. by maxume · · Score: 2, Funny

    Tern of you're spell checker.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  5. You sir are my hero... by FirstNoel · · Score: 2, Funny

    Doing something just because a commercial tells you not too.

    I'm the same way..

    Sean

    --
    "Hmm. I am to metaphor cheese as metaphor cheese is to transitive verb crackers!"
  6. Re:Octopus by Freeside1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    We do it here in California with FasTrak for paying tolls... Beware, if you or a loved one leaves their FasTrak (or other automatic toll device) behind when they move/get a new car, think twice about shipping it to them...
    luckily I didn't learn this from experience, but word of mouth.
  7. No Scrutiny please! by failedlogic · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think FTC scrutiny is absurd in this case. There are most certainly no privacy or banking regulations to be concerned about this technology.

    I renewed a Slashdot subscription this morning by sticking the card in front of my computer. I have a USB based reader connected to my computer to make secure transactions. At no point does it transmit the information in plain-text. I'll do it right now to show how useful this is. Here is the actual output:

    Card Holder Name:
    John Doe
    Credit Card Number:
    1234 5678 9123 4567
    Expiry date:
    01/2080

    See, what is wrong with that? I think this is a great technology. FTC, Buzz off!

  8. Re:What I don't get... by DavidD_CA · · Score: 2, Funny

    No.  God gave your ancestor a mutant hinge so that you could cover up your PIN.

    It's all part of His system of intelligent design.

    </sarcasm>

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    -David