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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  • 7 Posted by jmgibbons198@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    It has gone too far, and God knows what it will be used for. The problem is depending on who gets a hold of it, you can be sure they will come up with a way to use it in a negative way. There is no reason for the chips!

  • 8 Posted by jaed_43725 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is all very bad. If you want to track packages then maybe. But this kind of thing should never be allowed to be used to track a person or animal.

  • 10 Posted by franksglass33 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    "It is no different than the first stone a human used to smash grain and then throw at his enemy. It is a tool. Whether it is bad or good is determined by the person that uses it." -------------------------------- I can SEE a rock and defend against it!

  • 11 Posted by scottanddorinda on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    All this boils down to is the END OF TIME. If you will read Revelations, all signs point to the end. All this is heading to is the MARK OF THE BEAST. I don't care what anyone says, that's what it is. Not paranoia. As the person before me said, I'm relying on the safety and security I find belonging to Jesus Christ. He's the only one that will get us through any and everything. They can call it the no swipe credit card all they want to, I'll keep swiping a real card, not my finger thank you. Hitachi can keep their speck of dirt chip, I don't want it.

  • 12 Posted by njudell on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    Not to worry too much. Remember - these devices have to have both power and RF communication. Power means a pretty hefty coil (relative to the size of the chip) - if you're going to put the powering source more than an inch or so away. So I wouldn't worry too much about being spied on from a distance...

  • 14 Posted by stevenl73 on Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:43PM EST Report Abuse

    There is NO reason to track citizens, and I would hope that womever does faces the rath of TOTAL destruction!

  • 15 Posted by bay_area_video on Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:43PM EST Report Abuse

    so who's going to sell the hand-held RFID chip scanner to check for 'bugs'?

  • 16 Posted by balrogthane on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Without proper sensors, RFID tags themselves, no matter the size, do nothing but transmit pre-stored information. Until they have speck-sized digital cameras I think all the "OMG invasion of privacy!!!1" paranoia is way over the top.

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

    its called big brother one World goverment Look on the back of your one dollar bill it says it in Latin (Novus ordo seclorum) Which means One wolrd Goverment Dont believe me? Just look it up.Enought said.

  • 19 Posted by kingcra on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    How are these things powered? Where's the battery?

  • 20 Posted by ted_cantu on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    This type of "chip" technology is nothing new. Its been out for a years. This could be the first time it----- the publics ears. But so what. Theres no respect for the public. Is that news anymore? We're powerless to do anything about it -- right? Except leave the country. Which some people have already taken the liberty to do.

  • 21 Posted by dmax000011 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with the last post from seasideroses. Technology, although it can be used for good, is more oftentimes used for evil. I miss the old days. The Bible told us about this stuff long ago. It's just a prerequisite to desensitize us to what's to come.

  • 23 Posted by walleye_99_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Funny how everyone who is so obsessed with JC is also so paranoid about everything relating to their exisitance. So much easier to go with the flow and enjoy life. No one is trying to control you. The gov. couldnt care less about what you are doing...

  • 24 Posted by alwayscustom05 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    I personally think the same as the newest persons comment! It is just another way to make sure that the higher government has more control. They want to know everything that is going on and alot is our right to keep to ourselves. Why would you need a chip THAT small? Why try to hide it THAT much? Arent the chips we already have small enough? Dont try to blame it on safety, and bad people. Alot of the bad people that use this are the ones giving the "ok" to supply it!! Freedom is Freedom dont try to change it!!

  • 25 Posted by liebotscoool on Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:45PM EST Report Abuse

    Its crazy yes its just a paranoia scare thats all But i tihnk that yea a lot of evil can come from it from tracking to stealing info it dose not matter like the guy above said its up to a person and how they use it but i see a werid future where we dont have to have id's anymore and i like that where like in the movies in the future where we get credits and hey lets say u can pay for somthing just by waving your hand and be able to see a person info by waving you hand see age or insurense or reg. get credit cards or bank accounts so on and so forth well I see some bad but hella good And guess what no more fake id's heh

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