subject: Consumer concern over RFID tags posted: Wed, 09 Feb 2005 12:32:15 -0000
[World Cup 2006 tickets are being sold containg RFIDs. The exact
technique means the tickets are personalised to the holder. This has
had a number of unintended consequences, not least of which is that
punters must specify in advance who they are taking to the game, and
cannot then give the ticket to someone else, for example if the first
person is sick. - Stu]
Consumers are very concerned about the use of radio frequency ID
(RFID) tags in shops, a survey says.
More than half of 2,000 people surveyed said they had privacy worries
about the tags, which can be used to monitor stock on shelves or in
warehouses.
Some consumer groups have expressed concern that the tags could be
used to monitor shoppers once they had left shops with their
purchases.
The survey showed that awareness of tags among consumers in Europe
was low.
The survey of consumers in the UK, France, Germany and the
Netherlands was carried out by consultancy group Capgemini.
The firm works on behalf of more than 30 firms who are seeking to
promote the growth of RFID technology.
The tags are a combination of computer chip and antenna which can be
read by a scanner - each item contains a unique identification
number.
Product purchases
More than half (55%) of the respondents said they were either
concerned or very concerned that RFID tags would allow businesses to
track consumers via product purchases.
Fifty nine percent of people said they were worried that RFID tags
would allow data to be used more freely by third parties.
Ard Jan Vetham, Capgemini's principal consultant on RFID, said the
survey showed that retailers needed to inform and educate people
about RFID before it would become accepted technology.
"Acceptance of new technologies always has a tipping point at which
consumers believe that benefits outweigh concerns.
"With the right RFID approach and ongoing communication with
consumers, the industry can reach this point."
He said that the survey also showed people would accept RFID if they
felt that the technology could mean a reduction in car theft or
faster recovery of stolen items.
The tags are currently being used at one Tesco distribution centre in
the UK - the tags allow the rapid inventory of bulk items.
They are also in use as a passcard for the M6 Toll in the Midlands,
in the UK.
Mr Vetham said the majority of people surveyed (52%) believed that
RFID tags could be read from a distance.
He said that was a misconception based on a lack of awareness of the
technology.
At least once consumer group - Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy
Invasion and Numbering (Caspian) - has claimed that RFID chips could
be used to secretly identify people and the things they are carrying
or wearing.
All kinds of personal belongings, including clothes, could constantly
broadcast messages about their whereabouts and their owners, it
warned.
---
* Origin: [adminz] tech, security, support (192:168/0.2)
generated by msg2page 0.06 on Jul 21, 2006 at 19:03:55
search: