Average consumers may not realize how many RFID tags they carry around. The devices are embedded in personal items and even some clothing.
Image: Melissa Thomas (photoillustration); Richard Schultz (RFID tags); Sam Jordash (woman); Burazin (key fob); ©2005 Transport For London (Oyster card); Identity Stronghold (passport sleeve); Dima Gavrysh AP Photo (Chase blink credit card); Rolf Vennenbernd DPA/Corbis (EAS/RFID); Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (SmarTrip card)
In Brief
- Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are embedded in a growing number of personal items and identity documents.
- Because the tags were designed to be powerful tracking devices and they typically incorporate little security, people wearing or carrying them are vulnerable to surreptitious surveillance and profiling.
- Worldwide, legislators have done little to address those risks to citizens.
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How RFID Tags Work
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Types of RFID Tags
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RFID Tags in Everyday Life
If you live in a state bordering Canada or Mexico, you may soon be given an opportunity to carry a very high tech item: a remotely readable driver’s license. Designed to identify U.S. citizens as they approach the nation’s borders, the cards are being promoted by the Department of Homeland Security as a way to save time and simplify border crossings. But if you care about your safety and privacy as much as convenience, you might want to think twice before signing up.
The new licenses come equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags that can be read right through a wallet, pocket or purse from as far away as 30 feet. Each tag incorporates a tiny microchip encoded with a unique identification number. As the bearer approaches a border station, radio energy broadcast by a reader device is picked up by an antenna connected to the chip, causing it to emit the ID number. By the time the license holder reaches the border agent, the number has already been fed into a Homeland Security database, and the traveler’s photograph and other details are displayed on the agent’s screen.
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44 Comments
Add CommentThis is very scary!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnd it will only get worse until people take a stand against this corrupt government. We need to band together and fight this.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnd it will only get worse unless we as a people take a stand and fight against this corrupt government that is taking full advantage of its people.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf you want to take a stand - ditch your cell phone, blackberry and car.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDon't use a computer, ever. All of these have the capability to be tracked.
Then move to Montana, like the unabomber.
It would be fun to snoop on people with the reader devices, so I say go bananas with these RFID chips!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell dictators had their informers and agents who used to track the enemies and enemies disappered. Then dictators were eliminated by self proclaimed democracy and liberating radicals and fanatics. Now democratic modern civilizations are using technologies in much worse way than dictators did. If the citizens of decocracies dont rise up to root out these evil folks, Law of change will uproot the entire western civilization.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis technology was first developed to keep track of cattle. Moo.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis stuff is enough to make Thomas Jefferson vomit. It is also enough to make me not mind not having grandchildren if our state of living is coming to this. So, where is life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness if there are leeches on the ankles of every American. I think I will go bake an apple pie now. God help us.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIdentity Stronghold makes multiple products to protect you from RFID skimming. The Secure Sleeve for Passports is pictured in the middle of the front page photo on Scientific American. Their products are available at www.idstronghold.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnyone concerned about losing their privacy to a distant scanner should carry their RFID equipped cards in an aluminum sheath and take them out only when reading is wanted. A folded piece of thin metal is very effective. This returns control to the individual.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"...legislators have done little to address those risks to citizens." Why, how very naive of you to write this, or believe legislators worry about the little best interests of individual people. Reason is, no law gets made if there's no harm to legislators. Once one of them is tripped up in some way, or might not get re-elected, then a law will get passed. Until then, it's the companies who will get their way. Not you.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think I have a few points to make on this.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this1 - Charle444s has a good point - Legislators are just people who will pander to the corporations unless they see a personal threat. If you really want to get them to see the threat, the best way would be to demonstrate it to them by showing how their personal privacy could be invaded with this technology. If done in a non-invasive way (e.g. track a legislator around a convention or other public setting without truly invading their privacy), it could make a really strong statement.
2 - Personally, I abhor the idea of being tracked in any manner, however, I don't think it will be possible to hold back future technologies that don't require "voluntary" acceptance. As more science-fiction becomes fact, the oft interaction between the captain of the fictional Enterprise seems closer and closer:
Picard: "Computer - Locate Commander Riker."
Computer: "Commander Riker is not on board the Enterprise."
Did the computer use an RFID? OR, does it have sensors that can detect traces of DNA from the person in question? I'd bet that within my lifetime, someone will develop a sensor that can identify you from the DNA in your breath from a distance of 3 to 6 feet.
3. The worst and scariest scenario is the use of this technology by terrorists and criminals. Legislation won't help with that. The second worst and almost equally scary scenario is the wrongful use of it by the government. The problem is that the government won't govern themselves. They have a serious problem limiting their use of anything that could also be used by an enemy. The corporations, in my opinion, are the least scary - I really don't have that big of a problem if Walmart e-mails me a 20% coupon on electronics because I spent 90 minutes in that department the last time I was there.
Like it or not, I think we are going to be increasingly tracked by gov't, corporations, and criminals. What kind of legislation can protect us?
Let's elevate the intelligence level of this discussion.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhile there may be a documented potential for abuse, the spectre of a proliferation of human tracking rfid tags may in fact provide its own antidote. If we are to believe this story, the ground-level atmosphere will soon be buzzing with the detection of so many rfid tags, then the likely result is that only cacophony will occur in the monitoring systems. If the data overload of all these tags is not enough to bring tracking systems to a grinding halt due to sheer overload it will be the first time in the recorded history of database technology where this has not been the case.
Further, a little imagination on the part of the "sky is falling" scientists and privacy advocates would yield numerous low tech solutions that would appear to defeat the tracking as easily as wearing a halloween mask of a dead president or even some judiciously applied theatrical makeup will defeat facial recognition programs. For example, random round robin id swapping of tagged items between a group of people, or a little aluminum foil wrapped around a wallet could be all that is needed to block unwanted and serendipitous detection of your rfid tags, create mision-critical gaps in data collection, and totally scramble any correlation algorithms.
Fear not. Rfid tags do not by their very existence automatically turn us into helpless witless automotons subject to the whims of our government overlords.
Third, remember who the total idiots are who will be doing the tracking. The most incompetent boobs in goverment are to be found in the FBI, the CIA, Homeland Security, the Border Patrol, the FAA, the Pentagon - have I failed to offend any agency? Most of these idiots can't catch criminals who are standing in front of their own wanted poster. How are they possibly going to catch you?
The general ignorance concerning modern technology, its benefits and liabilities is appaling. There are no free lunches. Living in the modern technical world provides immense befefits, but as when man discovered he could obtain food by throwing rocks and then learned he could be hurt by rocks thrown by someone else, we discovered technology has the potential for misuse. The question is,"Are we smart enough to discern and evaluate use from misuse?"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOuttanames999 presented an interesting review. In his/her last paragraph he/she failed to mention congress and its support staffers who impose the restrictions on the agencies listed. In the process of protecting the "public" it is in effect causing the function of the groups mentioned to be nonfunctional. ( And of course, that is the intention when the objectives of various groups are in opposition. In many cases we are getting what we ask for but fail to recognize we ask for it.)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisShielding RFID tags should stop them being used to track you, but what about tags that you don't even know you're carrying?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI've just been reading about how mobile phones can be tracked to within a few metres. (They're doing it in a shopping mall not far from me.) It would be a nuisance to have to turn my phone off to avoid being tracked.
I've also been reading some EPCglobal documents. Their position seems to be that RFID tags can't be used to track individuals because there's no individual-specific data on a tag. This is naive for the reasons given in the SciAm article.
Wordsofpeace.org The only private place is within our selves.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThank you to Dr. Katherine Albrecht for alerting people to the serious dangers posed by RFID technology to our privacy and civil liberties. How the Beijing regime is seeking to use RFID should be a wake-up call to people who see this as harmless. Please support the Libertarian Party and other organizations seeking to protect freedom and limit the potential for government abuse -- www.LP.org. There is also a terrific flash animation video on the philosophy of liberty at http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBlogged this:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.jeremyduffy.com/how-rfid-tags-in-products-you-own-can-be-used-to-track-you/
Katherine is dead on about the dangers of RFID. Note the examples of the hacked RFID passports and the hacked RFID electronic toll systems and the RFID hacked subway fare systems and the hacked RFID secure door access systems.
Companies can't be trusted to get privacy right when they can't even get security right. We need pre-emptive legislation and we need it now. Since the RFID companies swear they'll NEVER use it that way anyway, it shouldn't be a problem now should it?
Worrying about abuses of RFID technology does not require "elevation". Instead it's people who can't see the issues that it poses that are in need of "enlightenment". Sure, RFID is a great technology that can be used for good in certain instances, but to allow it on your personal items that you carry with you would spell absolute disaster. Just look at how our companies treat our data now! You'd give them access to your precise location at all times during the day as well?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthe fourth ammendment states that "The right of the people to be secure in thier persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." It sounds like with this technology you are not secure in your person,papers or effects, and are being searched without probable cause, with no warrant, and the places your information is being seached are not being particularly described. How is this technology being allowed?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell unfortunately it will get worst much much worst with McCain/Palin. They claim everything done is in the best interest of national security. It is a big big lie, it is to make sure they know what you are doing and keep track of your every move just like communist and dictatorship countries.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDo not be fooled.
Well unfortunately it will get worst much much worst with McCain/Palin. They claim everything done is in the best interest of national security. It is a big big lie, it is to make sure they know what you are doing and keep track of your every move just like communist and dictatorship countries.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDo not be fooled.
Well unfortunately it will get worst much much worst with McCain/Palin. They claim everything done is in the best interest of national security. It is a big big lie, it is to make sure they know what you are doing and keep track of your every move just like communist and dictatorship countries.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDo not be fooled.
Garbage bins could be scanned for packaging. If a garbage collection truck was fitted with a reader and GPS system it could provide direct marketers with knowledge of purchases tied to addresses.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe author is incorrect with regard to her definition of ICAO. A more accurate definition from Wikipedia is as follows: "The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt would be nice to think that the makers of RFID did not think of this one.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOnce you give in to "a little" control, It wont take much to relinquish all!!!
Consider All Possiblities. It is our God given duty. : )
Terrifying is more like it!!! This ought to cause us to be aware of all things used to control "We The People". Let us not be "sheeple" herded in to the corals at feeding time, eh. Remember who said, "Have No Fear for I am with you alway!"-The Living Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisjust How will we know if any one or many of our items currently in use has this imbedded?? already
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPhilly is right, we has a society need to make a change for once, and that change will only happen once everyone gets involved. We NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD before the new world order hits us harder than ever
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt may be scary, but Philly is right. we all need to for once in our pathetic lives, we need to take a stand together. as one society. we all believe in happiness and peace, thats all that anyone ever wants. we need to make a change before the new world order hits us hard.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDo any you readers realieze that tags is only primitive as to what will yet be developed? It will all come to be that not "cards", but radio frequency micro chips will be inbedded under the skin (as now in pets), to control everyone that allows it, to buy, sell, and all their actions. And no commenter has mentioned how it may be that which is prophisied in the Holy Bible, as the "Mark" 666?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDo any you readers realieze that tags is only primitive as to what will yet be developed? It will all come to be that not "cards", but radio frequency micro chips will be inbedded under the skin (as now in pets), to control everyone that allows it, to buy, sell, and all their actions. And no commenter has mentioned how it may be that which is prophisied in the Holy Bible, as the "Mark" 666?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt's all in the bible,surveillance society, big brother paradise Amen!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe all know how effective the government is at running things (not). What will happen when they get their wires crossed and your id is mapped to a criminal data base by mistake? Something like that may cost a person a few years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost time and wages pursuing justice...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSomebody tell me , what was the seach engine she mentioned that would not keep your ip. address?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy Montana?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy Montana?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOur State already issues those licenses. I didn't realize that was the case.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs this referring to a license plate or driver's license? We have a new license in our state, the hologram photo, would that contain a chip?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is another step to " the MARK OF THE BEAST " . Big Brother is here! WATCH OUT!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJust another step closer to the mark of the beast. 666 is closer than you think. He might live in the white house.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnother step closer to the MARK OF THE BEAST! ( 666 ). Better be careful if you accept it!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPurchase a RFID tagged shirt or shoes with a credit card now you have the link to you. Combine that with reading your RFID DL and RFID credit card and RFID shirt with a reader in a door way. Heck new airport scanner generate biometric could double check shirt and shoes are the correct size. Jeff Rocky Flats Gear USA mfg of radiation blocking undergarments
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