Federal report warns of RFID misuses

Radio frequency identification is becoming increasingly popular inside the U.S. government, but agencies have not seriously considered the privacy risks, federal auditors said.

In a report published Friday, the Government Accountability Office said that 13 of the largest federal agencies are already using RFID or plan to use it. But only one of 23 agencies polled by the GAO had identified any legal or privacy issues--even though three admitted RFID would let them track employee movements.

"Key security issues include protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data and information systems," the GAO said. "The privacy issues include notifying consumers; tracking an individual's movements; profiling an individual's habits, tastes and predilections; and allowing for secondary uses of information."

RFID is a catchall term for a broad array of technologies that includes everything from battery-powered "active" tags, such as those used in highway toll booths, to "passive" RFID tags that measure a fraction of a millimeter in each dimension, not counting the antenna in the device.

Agencies already are experimenting with passive RFID technology. Among the list of planned or actual uses: the Department of Defense for tracking shipments; the Department of Homeland Security for immigration and baggage tracking; the State Department for electronic passports; the Department of Veterans Affairs for "audible prescription reading."

In addition, under the Real ID Act, the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for designing a standardized ID card that could be RFID-outfitted.

Few privacy concerns exist when RFID is used merely to track warehouse pallets. But when RFID chips are embedded in ID cards or otherwise linked to personal information, the GAO warned, the privacy risks increase dramatically.

"Consumers have raised concerns about whether certain collected data might reveal personal information such as medical predispositions or personal health histories and that the use of this information could result in denial of insurance coverage or employment to the individual," the report said. "For example, the use of RFID technology to track over-the-counter or prescription medicines has generated substantial controversy."

California's Senate this month approved a ban on the use of RFID tags in driver's licenses and other state-issued forms of identification.

RFID Chips are an Invasion of Privacy

RFID Chips are an invasion of your privacy but what the heck, the Fed's are suppose to be limited to just 10 sq. miles in a place called D.C. Michilem Tires for example all have RFID Chips in them. Wal-Mart's clothing from CHINA was a first promoter of the use of the chip and now requires its top 100 companies to use the chip. Now is this the USA we know? All 48 states that might be alright. O, I forgot, Hawaii was a sovereign nation and their is no provision in the USA Constitution to take in a sovereign nation. ditto for The Republic of Texas. They would have to pass a law and them RATIFY it by a majority of the states, (The real states).You can go to my website www.republicoftexasranger.info to see what it is all about. We have the US Supreme Court case on it that says Texas is not a "state" We are working on restoring The Republic of Texas to an "Unoccupied" Sovereign Nation. We will not allow any RFID chips. There is a joke in the Security Industry. RFID Chips are not for Security. O yes they will work for that but that is not their reason. They are to tracking your every move and whereabouts. Don't believe me? Check it out, but do it now, before the Police State of the new world order, is fully here. You are loosing your RIGHT'S AND LIBERTY every day to the Tyranny of the bankrupt US Corporation. Bet you did not know they were a bankrupt corp. as is all the "states".
Stand up and Demand Your Rights before it is to late. Col. Wayne Blackburn, Commander, Republic of Texas Rangers.

RFID Chips are an Invasion of Privacy

RFID Chips are an invasion of your privacy but what the heck, the Fed's are suppose to be limited to just 10 sq. miles in a place called D.C. Michilem Tires for example all have RFID Chips in them. Wal-Mart's clothing from CHINA was a first promoter of the use of the chip and now requires its top 100 companies to use the chip. Now is this the USA we know? All 48 states that might be alright. O, I forgot, Hawaii was a sovereign nation and their is no provision in the USA Constitution to take in a sovereign nation. ditto for The Republic of Texas. They would have to pass a law and them RATIFY it by a majority of the states, (The real states).You can go to my website www.republicoftexasranger.info to see what it is all about. We have the US Supreme Court case on it that says Texas is not a "state" We are working on restoring The Republic of Texas to an "Unoccupied" Sovereign Nation. We will not allow any RFID chips. There is a joke in the Security Industry. RFID Chips are not for Security. O yes they will work for that but that is not their reason. They are to tracking your every move and whereabouts. Don't believe me? Check it out, but do it now, before the Police State of the new world order, is fully here. You are loosing your RIGHT'S AND LIBERTY every day to the Tyranny of the bankrupt US Corporation. Bet you did not know they were a bankrupt corp. as is all the "states".
Stand up and Demand Your Rights before it is to late. Col. Wayne Blackburn, Commander, Republic of Texas Rangers.