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?

Related links:

Is RFID On Your Radar?
 Step Right Up for Your Microchip Implant 
Getting Swiped with a No-Swipe Credit Card

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  • 46 Posted by geo_draconis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Screw this! This crap has Revelations written all over it. I'll stick to swiping my card, thanks.

  • 47 Posted by tico_173 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    i personaly think is a bad I dea, wat happen if some one can used the same chip to make somebody sick or even kill a person and i don't like at all.

  • 48 Posted by goyangproductions on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    All things are leading to the One world govt as the bible speaks about through prophecy. Jesus Christ is coming back very soon!!

  • 49 Posted by devil_fish_001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    Who cares? We are already under control. Companies can all ready track your spending. If people are responsible then we can have freedom. But people are not responsible so we lost our freedom. Think about it. People are all ready buying $50 shirts with a logo. When a pain shirt cost 10. People don't have minds of their own.

  • 50 Posted by coolmamaw06 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    RFID is real scarey. The bible says in the end times no man shall be able to buy or sale without the mark in their hand or forward. I believe this is the mark. This is the perfect way for the Antichrist to keep track of all of us. Money will no longer be any good.

  • 51 Posted by mrhuangsta on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes. Those chips are a concern to me and will be in the future to the people. With those chips, people will have their liberty and rights stripped away, one by one, until we are useless beings.

  • 52 Posted by gettocity on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    yo post 5 u right its the mark of the beast. hospitals are allready chiping every one with out telling them what there doing. Look up the videos yourself. on utobe search rfid and blue tooth.

  • 53 Posted by tim6575t2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Very wierd how my comment got deleted On the back of the one Dollar bill It says in Latin One World Goverment its on the left hand side under the eye Novus Ordo Seclorum

  • 54 Posted by nbc_newscaster on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is interesting because of the fact that we cannot completely trust our government. They hide a lot of information from us. Perhaps it is for the better, to safeguard us, but we cannot determine that, since we don't know. This device here; it may be used to track a crime lord within our nation, or even worldwide. This piece of "powder" may track a killer, a rapist, or any sort of criminal. The negative side is that someone with evil content will use this to his advantage. Same with people in high positions. I think until then, we do not know what will become of this device, but we should keep our eyes open, seeing both perspectives of the matter. I wouldn't want to breathe one of these in so that a company knows what type of food I like, so that they send me mail about what I like. Talk about cheap.

  • 55 Posted by esingletonjr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yo these chips should not be used for a number of reasons, but the main reason being that, privacy is really getting out of control...The goverment is just trying to take over as much as they possibly can,and also to make individuals believe that they are doing this for their protection and well-being. This world is no longer safe from nothing, because the Goverment has just screwed it all..It's all crazy yo...

  • 56 Posted by wankap on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    The Hitachi chip does not respond to just any radio energy but only to their reader which costs $1500.00 currently. It is also only a ROM device that spouts the pre-programmed data upon prompting to a reader that is within 30" of the chip. To get a signal farther away you need to attach an antenna which is currently about a cm square! You EZPass has an antenna that's why the box is so big! With the antenna the device can be read about 50 feet away.

  • 57 Posted by out_of_con_troll on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    As a Christian, I only rejoice to this news for the scriptures are being fulfilled. "He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666" (Rev. 13:16-18)

  • 58 Posted by mongoose42 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    RFID chip's? If they are tasty like Doritoes im all for it!!

  • 59 Posted by herodytus on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it's a serious privacy invasion about to go south. It wasn't RFID, but I remember the scenes in Minority Report when Tom Cruise walks through corridors that constantly scan his eyes & throw ad after ad at him. I'm a reformed/former conspiracy theorist, and don't put too much stock in "the black helicopters coming after me," but worry much more about corporate money chasing my spending/living habits. If I wanted someone's attention constantly following me around, I would have auditioned for a "reality" TV show.

  • 60 Posted by dale90710 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    This stuff is straight out of Bible prophecy! It's amazing to be living now and witness Bible prophecy come to life right before our eyes! Beware of taking any permanent ID mark on your right hand or on your forhead. This could be the beginnning of the Mark of the Beast 666 as described in Revelations chapter 13 verses 16, 17 and 18.

  • 61 Posted by cornkraker44 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    In "GOD" Trust; all other's bring Cash or Certified Check. Too much emphysis is placed on political correctness @ the expense of existing Constitutional Rights.

  • 62 Posted by piriejoe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Think ID theft... its gonna be easy and its gonna happen. i found a product that you put in your wallet that protects the RFID chip from being read. its called Emvelope. i got one and as a test i wrapped my cell phone in it and tried calling it. it never rang, so i'm convinced. this is where i got mine. http://www.emvelope.com/

  • 63 Posted by donalem on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is indeed scary and a sign of the times, the rise of the anti-Christ in the form of corporate greed and desire for control over all that exists, even the invisilbe (e.g airwaves, soundwaves) and all that is necessary for life, such as water and even air. The beast is distributing chips for tracking and who knows, maybe mind control. while else would so many school children be drugged - corporate greed and control. Say your prayers and return from evil ways while you can, the end is not far off. What better time than Lent to regroup.

  • 65 Posted by waynebuckwheat on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    Without QUESTION, pure evil. Nothing more than an invasion of my privacy. A 14 yr old kid can hack an RFID, it's also junk tech, but if the gubment wants it, all in the name of 'protecting us from terrorism' well then..... I'll pass on it, even it they make it law.

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