[LINK] RFID Report - A Think Tank Makes Case Against RFID Regulation

[Geoffrey Ramadan]

I come across the following report and preamble:

"A Think Tank Makes Case Against RFID Regulation"

"PRI, a California-based think tank with an openly free-market bent, 
this week released a primer on RFID, privacy, and government efforts at 
legislation of the technology ( 
http://liberty.pacificresearch.org/docLib/20070706_RFID.pdf ). Entitled 
Playing Tag: An RFID Primer, the 11-page report is a worthwhile and 
concise wrap-up of the issues surrounding privacy and RFID. Of 
particular interest is the Legislative Notes section beginning page 9, 
which recaps many of the recent regulatory efforts around the US.

Not that the report is entirely neutral; consistent with PRI's political 
leanings, Playing Tag argues firmly against regulation of the 
technology. "Lawmakers should weigh the pros and cons of this 
technology, before imposing a regulatory regime that would inhibit the 
positive benefits of RFID," quoted report author K. Lloyd Billingsley.

Ultimately, argues PRI, much of the RFID backlash is emotional, but 
largely un- or mis-informed. Knee-jerk fear to such a small tracking 
technology is one of the culprits. "That a new technology sparks fear is 
understandable, especially a device so small that it can be placed under 
the skin and used to track the bearer." While understandable, this fear 
is not really justified. "It is a stretch to say that RFID tags can 
track 'your every move.' ... A scanner cannot tell whether a product 
bearing a tag is being used by the purchaser of the product, has been 
given to someone else, or lies in the trash."

PRI also makes the insightful point that part of RFID's perception 
problem could stem from its early backers, Wal-Mart and the US 
Department of Defense. That both the world's largest corporation and its 
largest military served as leading proponents of adoption likely tainted 
RFID in the eyes of those that might harbor a reflexive distrust of 
highly influential institutions. Of course, this reflex is neither a 
rational nor a justified reaction, but it is a strong reaction, and one 
with which RFID end users, vendors, and government officials must contend.

While PRI takes a position against government regulation, it does not 
suggest that vendors and end users should recklessly adopt the 
technology at the expense of consumer privacy. Indeed, techniques such 
as embedding tags in packaging versus products themselves, disabling 
tags at point of sale, and making them visible and easily removable are 
all cited as practices that the retail industry might be wise to employ."
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Was wondering if anyone new this organisation (PRI) or would like to 
make comment on this paper.

Reg
Geoffrey Ramadan B.E.(Elec)
Chairman, Automatic Data Capture Association (www.adca.com.au)
and
Managing Director, Unique Micro Design (www.umd.com.au)