Interesting People mailing list archives
Ethics and Tracking Devices
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 04:01:38 -0400
------ Forwarded Message From: Nathan Cochrane <ncochrane () theage fairfax com au> Reply-To: ncochrane () theage fairfax com au Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 15:35:27 +1000 To: "Dave Farber (E-mail)" <dave () farber net> Subject: Ethics and Tracking Devices Hi Dave Those companies pushing radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs) have been dealt a body blow with the exposure of their unethical and unscrupulous tactics. Controversial plans to insinuate RFID tags in everything we buy and use were laid bare by non-existent security at the RFID industry site, Auto-ID Center, damaging the industry's argument that we can trust them to respect our privacy. A few weeks ago I spoke to Cheryl Shearer, IBM's worldwide director of e-business to smart machines, part of the pervasive systems group. She fudged around the topic that RFIDs were being used to invade privacy. She emphasised that they are mostly used to track devices through the supply chain, and as such would never likely come into contact with citizens. Despite painting a graphic scenario for her about how the devices could be used to track us, such as the scene in Minority Report where public display terminals reveal Tom Cruise's habits, she said there was no need for IBM to demand its clients use the devices ethically or in accordance with the law. That was not IBM's role, or the role of industry giants such as Philips, she said. She said it was not IBM's role to mandate a code of conduct for the use of its devices. "ThatÂ’s a matter for an industry body," Shearer said "(W)hat possible use could this data be? "It may be for reasons for merchandising, that you want absolutely to know the demographic of the customer that bought the thing. I'm pushed to understand the value post-sale. "That needs to be addressed by either voluntary or enforced codes of conduct or in country legislation. Some of the consumer groups such as Caspian in US are already in discussions with the RFID groups. It's always possible there could be an unscrupulous group but it is possible to permanently disable a tag. When we do the system integration if the customer is in agreement we would do that." MORE: http://bilskirnir.blogspot.com/2003_07_01_bilskirnir_archive.html#1057640870 71094062 - Nathan Cochrane Deputy IT Editor :Next: The Age and Sydney Morning Herald http://www.next.theage.com.au **************************************************************************** ***** The information contained in this e-mail message and any accompanying files is or may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, reliance, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail or any attached files is unauthorised. This e-mail is subject to copyright. No part of it should be reproduced, adapted or communicated without the written consent of the copyright owner. If you have received this e-mail in error, please advise the sender immediately by return e-mail, or telephone and delete all copies. Fairfax does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this e-mail or attached files. Internet communications are not secure, therefore Fairfax does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message or attached files. **************************************************************************** ***** ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- Ethics and Tracking Devices Dave Farber (Jul 08)