RFID: Cool Technology or the Mark of the Beast?

Even since I saw the latest edition of Systm, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about RFID, short for Radio Frequency Identifier. RFID is a technology where small radio transmitters can be used to store data. RFID tags are usually about the size of a grain of rice and can store anything from a unique ID number, to your medical information.

In the latest episode of Systm, they interviewed a guy who has done a bit of his own RFID hacking. He has implanted two RFID chips in his hands, and has rigged his house to respond to those. Everything from unlocking the door to unlocking his computer is handled by the two RFID chips in his hands. It’s actually quite amazing when you think about it.

What he is doing is exactly what is going to happen in the near future. RFID tags will be behind our everyday actions. Imagine never going through a checkout again. All your products will be tagged with RFID tags, and you’ll be carrying your own. When you exit the store, an RFID reader will pick up on all the items you have, as well as read your RFID tag, charging your bank account. Or think of what it could mean for the medical industry. If you get injured and are unconscious, an RFID tag carrying your medical records could easily identify you to the emergency room staff, insuring that you can receive the proper treatment. The possibilities are limitless.

Think that RFID is a distant dream? Wrong. More than likely you’ve already experienced RFID technology. Own a Mobile-Exxon Speedpass? That’s an RFID tag. How about those instant tollbooth lanes (it’s called E-ZPass in the Eastern U.S.)? Those are powered by RFID tags. You might even be carrying an RFID tag on you right now. American Express’ Blue Card has an RFID tag, and many car keys now have RFID tags to identify that a copy is not being used to start the car. RFID is everywhere, and it’s only going to continue.

With the expansion of RFID tags, issues are certainly going to arise. One of the main concerns is privacy. With more and more RFID tags being used, there is a higher chance for privacy to be lost. Take for example RFID tags in store bought items. The tags don’t deactivate after leaving the store, meaning if you happen to walk by an RFID reader with the product in the future, the reader could record where the product is now, and even who is using it. Personal RFID tags could be even more of a concern. Someone with an RFID sniffer could possibly gain access to whatever information is stored on your tag, or even worse, completely steal your identity by flashing your tag onto theirs. Once they have your tag, they could access your house, your car, or anything else the tag is linked to.

Another concern is a little out there. Many groups of Christian Anarchists believe RFID tags are the Mark of the Beast mentioned in the book of Revelations. They think that implanting an RFID chip is going to instantly doom you when the Apocalypse begins. I wouldn’t be mentioning this, but today being 6-6-06, I felt it was appropriate.

While I don’t believe RFID is the Mark of the Beast, I am against implanting RFID tags. I’ve always been squeamish when it comes to medical things, and this is no exception. Sure, this isn’t the first man-made thing put into people’s bodies, but something just feels wrong about it. I guess I just think there are viable alternatives to implanting the chips permanently inside of humans. A wristband would be just as effective, or even a wallet, shoe, or just about anything else you carry on yourself all the time. We shouldn’t be forced to carry a permanent ID with us all the time, because when 1984 comes around, I want to have the option to be unknown.

So there you have it, RFID. It’s certainly an emerging technology and in the coming years we’ll all be carrying them on something we own. While the benefits may seem worthwhile, we need to consider what we’re getting into. Is not having to remember a few numbers really worth giving a totalitarian government the ability to track your every movement? Is implanting an RFID tag really the best option for personal tags? It’s important to think about the potential of new technology but we also need to to consider the faults. I’d love to throw away all my keys and cards, and just deal with a single chip, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my privacy to do that. With time the technology will get better, and maybe this won’t be an issue, but for the time being, I’ll take any RFID tag you throw at me, just don’t give me my own.