Long-time readers of this blog know that I am no fan of RFID. This is a technology which, in theory, could destroy personal privacy. Imagine a small transmitter embedded in every thing you own: every piece of clothing, even. This is what the ultimate goal of RFID companies is. The RFID backers then go on to say, “Oh, don’t worry, these will never be used to track what you do. Trust us!” But if there’s one thing that we should’ve learned by now: anything a comany can do to earn more money, they will do.
Many privacy groups share this concern about RFID. Some, such as Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN), have apparently been getting under RFID interest group GMA’s skin. Wired reports an email stating GMA is trying to find embarrassing information about CASPIAN’s founder, Katherine Albrecht. The email, in part, read: “‘I don’t know what to tell this woman! Well, actually we’re trying to see if you have a juicy past that we could use against you.‘”
Because of this incident, GMA is now asking CASPIAN’s advice about RFID implementations.