NewsScan Daily: July 9, 2003
TALKING CLOTHES: HARMLESS CHIT-CHAT OR VICIOUS GOSSIP?
RFID technology (the acronym stands for 'radio frequency identification'), which embeds tiny computer chips and radio antennae into products and transmits inventory and supply-chain data to manufacturers and retailers, is being criticized by Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center: 'Simply stated, I don't think most people want their clothes spying on them. It's also clear that there could be some very invasive uses of these techniques if merchants use the tracking technology to spy on their customers after purchase.' In rebuttal, Ron Margulis of the National Grocers Association says that privacy concerns are far outweighed by the benefits of RFID, which could help retailers respond much more quickly to product recalls and prevent people from becoming ill from tainted products: 'You do give up a bit of privacy but the benefit could be that you live.' (AP/USA TODAY 9 Jul 2003) http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-07-08-rfid-chip_x....
WAL-MART CANCELS 'SMART-SHELF' TRIAL
Bowing to criticism from consumer privacy groups, Wal-Mart has canceled what was billed as the biggest trial yet of a so-called smart-shelf system that would use RFID sensors to pick up data transmitted by microchips in partner Gillette's product packaging. The system would then alert store managers via computer when stock was running low or when items may have been stolen. A Gillette representative declined to comment on Wal-Mart's decision, but said it plans to focus on helping UK supermarket chain Tesco and German retailer Metro conduct similar trials in Europe. Meanwhile, Wireless Data Research Group analyst Ian McPherson says privacy advocates' concerns were likely overblown: 'Consumers that"
TALKING CLOTHES: HARMLESS CHIT-CHAT OR VICIOUS GOSSIP?
RFID technology (the acronym stands for 'radio frequency identification'), which embeds tiny computer chips and radio antennae into products and transmits inventory and supply-chain data to manufacturers and retailers, is being criticized by Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center: 'Simply stated, I don't think most people want their clothes spying on them. It's also clear that there could be some very invasive uses of these techniques if merchants use the tracking technology to spy on their customers after purchase.' In rebuttal, Ron Margulis of the National Grocers Association says that privacy concerns are far outweighed by the benefits of RFID, which could help retailers respond much more quickly to product recalls and prevent people from becoming ill from tainted products: 'You do give up a bit of privacy but the benefit could be that you live.' (AP/USA TODAY 9 Jul 2003) http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-07-08-rfid-chip_x....
WAL-MART CANCELS 'SMART-SHELF' TRIAL
Bowing to criticism from consumer privacy groups, Wal-Mart has canceled what was billed as the biggest trial yet of a so-called smart-shelf system that would use RFID sensors to pick up data transmitted by microchips in partner Gillette's product packaging. The system would then alert store managers via computer when stock was running low or when items may have been stolen. A Gillette representative declined to comment on Wal-Mart's decision, but said it plans to focus on helping UK supermarket chain Tesco and German retailer Metro conduct similar trials in Europe. Meanwhile, Wireless Data Research Group analyst Ian McPherson says privacy advocates' concerns were likely overblown: 'Consumers that"