Going to go out on a limb here to say that it’s a good chance that a small percentage of net users would know what RFID is. I’m going to say that even less non net using peeps in the world would know what RFID is. The acronym stands for Radio Frequency Identification and this case it should be RFIDC cause it usually involves a chip.
In short it’s a way for anything with an RFID tag to be tracked. In no small way is this an invasion of privacy. RFID technology is in passports, credit cards, money and on store shelves in places like Wal*Mart. The saying is, good intentions pave the way to hell. That is exactly what RFID is sprouting to be. The way to hell. At the very least, the way of Big Brother.
The concept of tracking a product or service with a barcode has been around a long time with the printed media. It’s a way to keep track of prices and sales. Good on that. With RFID, now they can imbed that into the product itself and track it however a creator or government sees fit. Meaning, if you steal it, they can find you. If you own it, they can find you.
Sad reality is that RFID is not a very secure technology. It’s highly hackable from all the stories I’ve read. It’s frightening to thing that a precarious money system is going to be trusted to a technology that can be hacked and stolen without you ever knowing. It’s as simple as someone walking by you like a mobile speed pass and swiping you – without the swipe.
Recently the host of a popular cable show called Mythbusters made a statement about why their show didn’t air an episode about RFID hackabilty. As he told the audience of a conference it had to do with lawyers and credit card companies, it has since been retracted. Thus even hinting at what was likely the truth as to why they didn’t air an episode, he’s now come back to say he got it all wrong about what went down and why they couldn’t air it.
That’s part of the trouble of an ad generated business model. If you’re doing a story that affects the clients who pay your bills, then it’s not likely that you’ll be in business very long doing stories that show their weaknesses. When companies pour money into bad technology and decide not to dump the technology, it’s hard to own up to the truth – especially when it affects every client they have. Oh what a tangled web we weave right?
Anyway, I’m not a proponent of giving the government or any thief the ability to know if I’m carrying my passport, how much money I might have in my wallet, where I’m at at any given time, or even the number of my credit card. Not a smart thing to do. It has nothing to do with having something to hide. It has everything to do with, it’s not necessary.
That’s what leads me into today’s choice. It fit the title I wanted. Kanye was considered to be a very capable producer for other artists. Then he got into his own game of being the artist. I realize the the lyrics have actually nothing to do with the idea of RFID. I’m merely connecting the title. The title worked.
If you’re not a Kanye fan, why? Would it be like the RFID thing? Not sure that you like him? Or would it be the things he says? They’re well intentioned, but can miss the mark.
Go take on Big Brother for yourself.