rfid, tracking Index

Supermarket cards and retail surveillance devices are merely the opening volley of the marketers' war against consumers. If consumers fail to oppose these practices now, our long-term prospects may look like something from a dystopian science fiction novel. A new consumer goods tracking system called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is poised to enter all of our lives, with profound implications for consumer privacy. RFID couples radio frequency (RF) identification technology with highly miniaturized computers that enable products to be identified and tracked at any point along the supply chain. 2

On the flip side, Levi Strauss & Co., one of the nation's largest clothing manufacturers, confirmed April 28 its testing of RFID "hang tags" on clothing shipped to two retail outlets in Mexico and one in the United States —a move that many consumer advocates point to as an outright invasion of privacy rights given the tags will be attached to individual items consumers wear.

Radio frecuency identification systems and applications. Innovative traceability solutions for concrete beams and vegetables, and electronic identification of animals. Rfid technology, transponders and tags rfid.

Mauro Benetton clears up the confusion behind the Benetton Group's RFID announcement. Does Benetton plan to use RFID tags to track garments made under its Sisley brand? Why did one of its suppliers say it was and why did the company later refute that? These questions have been lingering since the flap over privacy erupted, and now they have been answered by Mauro Benetton, director of marketing for the Benetton Group, in an exclusive interview with RFID Journal.

On November 15, fifteen privacy and consumer organizations called for manufacturers to voluntarily hold off on their plans to equip consumer goods with wireless tracking devices. These devices, called Radio Frequency Identification tags, are based on the same technology that lets cars pay E-ZPASS tolls without stopping. The fear of these activists is simple: They're worried that instead of being used to track boots, bluejeans and books, these so-called RFID systems will be used to track us.