Many thanks to all of you who responded to last week’s newsletter, “RFID, presence and privacy,” with opinions about what lies in store with location-tracking and biometric-identification applications.
Most of us seem to agree that there’s a very delicate balance to strike between productivity and privacy when you can identify who people are, where they are and what they’re doing at any point in time. Achieving that balance will undoubtedly be a thorny challenge, particularly in today’s ultra-security-conscious climes.
Those of us addicted to the forensics-themed TV show “CSI” and programs like it can’t help but feel that enterprising thieves will nearly always find some way to spoof the safeguards that honest technologists build into systems. And, as one reader, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), pointed out:
“With the lack of ethics displayed throughout our global society, Big Brother applications will undoubtedly appear [that make inappropriate use of RFID information].”
Another reader, from the RFID community, asked me: “The mobile phone vendors can already track everyone carrying a mobile phone. Do you feel [RFID] greatly expands that ‘loss’ of privacy?”
My answer: It doesn’t matter to me which location-tracking technology is used, but, rather, how it is used. For example, I don’t personally feel the mobile operators’ ability to track my phone invades my privacy – yet. At least to my knowledge, the capability hasn’t been applied in such a way. Tracking me down for purposes of my own safety is a positive application of the technology.
But if a stalker (or telemarketer) can suddenly find me wherever I am, that’s a horse of a different color. Whether they lasso me using triangulation or RFID technology is irrelevant.
Worry over simply being too accessible – for privacy, time management, security or stress reasons – has been one of the big objections to having a 411 directory of cellular subscribers. Cellular phone owners haven’t wanted to receive the telemarketing calls (particularly on their own dime) that plague them at home, spam in the form of short message service (SMS) text and now mobile viruses once their contact information is public.
On the other hand, having directories can also be quite handy when used appropriately.
I think location tracking in general and perhaps RFID in particular have the potential to become the most revolutionary set of technologies since the cell phone itself, bringing us truly into the Star Trek age. We are now wise to the foibles that can arise with any communication and information technology, so it makes sense to anticipate the potential abuses up front so we can minimize the downsides.
It’s not going to be easy, though. Much of that work boils down to ethics, a topic that is very difficult for society to agree upon.
Learn more about this topic
RFID policy panel raises privacy concerns
IDG News Service, 04/06/05
Cisco releases Airespace WLAN location server
Network World Fusion, 05/05/05
Experts fear RFID strain on networks
Network World, 06/06/05
Network-centric RFID draws near
Network World, 04/04/05
Wireless enables assembly lines
Network World, 06/13/05
Network World, 06/13/05
Copyright © 2005 IDG Communications, Inc.