Soctech seminar, Fall 2006

Fall 2006: RFID Technology

Basic description of RFID:

• Roy Want, The Magic of RFID.

Research:

Applications:

• Government:
  • Passports (trial programs in a few countries, e.g. US)
• Commercial:
  • supply-side tracking of inventory (e.g. walmart)
  • gathering more detailed information about consumers (increasing information asymmetry between sellers/buyers)
  • enabling buyers to gather more information about products (decreasing above information asymmetry)

Security concerns:

• hacking Dutch RFID passports
• RFID viruses (many say the claims are exaggerated)

Privacy & Surveillance concerns:

• article expressing concern about being tracked everywhere...
• Anti-RFID site

(Proposed) laws:

• Wisconsin law bans forcible implanting of RFID tag
• (old) proposed legislation in California that would attempt to protect ocnsumer privacy

Potential speakers:

• Gaetano Borriello
• Roy Want

A few companies...

• Alien Technology
• VeriChip