Be Afraid: Powder-Sized RFID Chips
Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:58AM EST
See Comments (1248)
Everyone's so paranoid about the RFID chips that are already in place in so many parts of our lives, so here's an item (via Engadget and Pink Tentacle) about Hitachi's new powder-sized RFID chips to make us even more scared of Big Brother (or little-Brother-ID thief). RFID chips are tiny microchips that use radio waves to do everything from conduct credit card transactions (as on those little key-fob-Paypass MasterCard thingies) and pay for tolls (EZ Pass and its ilk) to keeping track of your devices and travel (U.S. passports). Hitachi plans to start marketing these new chips—seriously no bigger than a speck of dust at 0.05 x 0.05 mm—in two to three years. The company says this super-tiny chip can be used in paper, currency, gift certificates, and the like, but as some sites have pointed out, today's chips are already small enough for those uses. So, as Engadget cracked, does this mean we should be watching what we eat in case of some James-Bond-style pepper-shaker swap?
Maybe, but is the terror around RFID over-hyped? According to most proponents of the technology, and my own experiences paying with PayPass at my local drug store, you really need to physically tap the RFID chip to something for the transaction to go through. And yet, when I go through a toll booth, my RFID-enabled EZ Pass box is only about ten feet away from the sensor. So maybe it is time to watch what you eat, lest Big Brother starts to track you wirelessly (or you spill some RFID powder from which evil ID thieves can extract your vital stats!)
What do you think? Is RFID worth the convenience or is it setting up some dangerous privacy-invasion precedents?
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Comments on Be Afraid: Powder-Sized RFID Chips
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27 Posted by bergermeister99 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse
The concerns outweigh the benefits with RFID. There are too many ways now for the Govt or private companies to keep track of us even with out this technology getting smaller. We don't need it. Man lasted millions of years with out it. If you think it is not a big deal go and do some research on the company Axciom. The Govt loves it to because they will have an easier time of controling us because we will be too afraid to speak out against them if they will be able to track us easier; just the way it happened after 911. Why wasn't all of the verbal testimony entered into the official document? Censorship at it's finest spured on by fear. Do you really know what is in your childrens immunization shots? How come some states are now requiring fingerprints just to get a drivers license? If living in one of those states, refuse the thumb scan. FIGHT BACK!
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28 Posted by master_dream_weaver_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse
There were REASONS our rights were installed into our Constitution including the right to privacy from government snooping without a valid warrant stating EXACTLY the nature of items or information being searched for. This is simply one more erosion of those rights. I'm opposed to RFID technology IN SPITE of the possible beneficial uses of it, because we have ample evidence that our government can not be trusted. They have in the past "experimented" on their own population without the test subjects knowlege or consent. THIS is the same government you trust with such technology available to them. It has also been proven time and time again how "insecure" RFID data is and how EASY it is to get it. Yes, it's time to be concerned.
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29 Posted by shannon_reinders on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:16PM EDT Report Abuse
I can't see why we would ever need such a tiny device. Granted it's a tool, but for what puprose is this tool being developed? Unless you want to track something while remaining undetected? It's the undetected part that bothers me. I would rather know I am being watched, than find out later that I am being tracked to the good or ill of some one else's private or public agenda. With tools like this, my choice to participate or not participate is taken away. I would not know if I even had a choice, being so small, I would probably not realize there was a potential problem.
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30 Posted by pyatrus on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:23PM EDT Report Abuse
I think soon we will have conference rooms painted in Al paint to block transmissions. More over something needs to zap nano-insects at the doorstep in case the want to hop or crawl in. http://www.smartmobs.com/archive/2006/03/15/hybrid_insect_m.html http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci1185472,00.html http://www.darpa.mil/BAA/baa06-22.html
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31 Posted by vet4908@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:34PM EDT Report Abuse
Man's technology goes without question that we have advance in marvelous ways. But if anyone has been around on this earth for any period of time we have also see the evil that man had done, can do and WILL DO. Whatever good man can come up with we can find far more ways to do evil with whatever we develop. We can keep telling ourselves that man is basically good as we add another lock on our doors, windows, another camera around the perimeter, more bulllits for our guns, more pepper spray, and on, and on, and on.
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32 Posted by schmitty190 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse
big brother is watching you
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33 Posted by jordanphettaplace@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse
I think there just trying to scare most of the people. Most of what they will use it for trying to track a person and watch there every move, but if a robber gets his hand on some of that stuff then you have to watchout for something weird. The "govenment" probably could use it for tracking someone that is buying something strange. The government is weird.
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34 Posted by kasz2407 on Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:46PM EST Report Abuse
----- you and your chips nobody will EVER put that ----- in my body...Controlling muther ----- overment pricks.Can we have some ----- freedom like the constitution says...There slowly taking away are freedom...!Can"t you see this or are you brainwashed by the media!
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35 Posted by methodical_formulation on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:16PM EDT Report Abuse
A concern? id say so ,. yes. where does the invasion of privacy stop? But i can also see a plus side, if your 13 year old daughter is missing - downside - an overly concerned parent calling the police everytime shes 15 minutes late getting home. BAD idea.
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36 Posted by grantcr1988 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse
So now theres something that tracks everywhere you go, everything you do, and everything you buy? Not cool. I didn't sign up to live in a Nanny-State. I'd gladly take the risk of being less safe in exchange for some privacy. I'm sure any two-bit hacker or cracker would easily gain entry to the database recording everyone's behaviors, and this can only spell disaster. Count me out, I'm sticking to cash.
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37 Posted by silverwolf_13_14 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:23PM EDT Report Abuse
thats not right. no one is safe... i mean for navy uses maybe a good i idea but not on people that are not in the war's i mean thats not right. that is invation of privacy. that like being a peeping tom. that is messed up. wrong in so many ways.
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38 Posted by cue5c on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:32PM EDT Report Abuse
I was waiting for someone to say that :) If you're so afraid that it's the chip from the end of the world, get it implanted in your left hand ;) It only says your right hand and forehead. I believe this will be of great use.
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39 Posted by mrpublish on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:28PM EDT Report Abuse
The potential for privacy abuse with these RFIDs is frightening. Public policy should be in place whereby you could buy a device that could determine whether or not an RFID is in your close proximity
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40 Posted by mrpublish on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:28PM EDT Report Abuse
The potential for privacy abuse with these RFIDs is frightening. Public policy should be in place whereby you could buy a device that could determine whether or not an RFID is in your close proximity
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41 Posted by bell4624@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse
we are getting closer to the mark of the beast.wake up and get saved Jesus paid to big of a price for you to go to lake of fire or to get the mark are better know as RFID.
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42 Posted by danielloffredo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse
This is "1984" incarnate.
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43 Posted by savages101 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:06PM EDT Report Abuse
Really, I should think that all law abiding citizens feel that this microchip/invasion of privacy is going to far. I think these chips are great, for criminals and illegal aliens. However individuals that the government desires to keep track of should be made well aware that infact they are being monitored, in everything they do. Theres a chance that crime would decrease. Yet I fail to see this intrusive chip as a means of convenience for the law abiding, upstanding citizens of the U.S. Thanks for allowing me to express my opinion.
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44 Posted by huskix_shadow on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse
My question is how sensitive these new chips are to electric magnetic pulses and magnetic fields. As much concern one should have over the implications of these devices one must realize that even though they are small I very much doubt they have long range. In order to broadcast a radio signal or other signal these chips much expend power. And as small as these chips are they much either be used with a specific machine that can detect them or much be able to produce a good amount of power to broadcast a signal of any real distance. The latter is very unlikely at this point in time. And ingestion of the chip would now assure its infiltration as it would be attacked by the immune system or just pass through the system normally. So unless your a high priority of the government I doubt there is much to worry about, yet.
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45 Posted by kasz2407 on Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:48PM EST Report Abuse
----- you and your chips nobody will EVER put that ----- in my body...Controlling muther ----- overment pricks.Can we have some ----- freedom like the constitution says...There slowly taking away are freedom...!Can"t you see this or are you brainwashed by the media!
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26 Posted by rockaddict311 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:47PM EDT Report Abuse
Um...yah what he said....ppl can be helped with this...or hurt...abused...raped...killed...or tracked for their own purposes. -I hope their not water-proof (shower up)